This statement caused a series of reactions in French public opinion, some positive and some negative.

Newsroom (14/10/2021 9:24 PM, Gaudium Press) Last Tuesday the 12th, the president of the French Bishops’ Conference, Bishop Eric de Moulins-Beaufort met with the Minister of the Interior, Gerald Darmanin, to clarify his position on the secrecy of confession.

Conversation about the meaning of the sacrament of confession

The prelate expressed his joy at being able to present his views on “the meaning of the sacrament of confession for Catholics and on the theological, spiritual and canonical foundations of the secret of confession.”

The idea for this meeting came after statements by the Catholic bishop that this secret was superior to the laws of the Republic. This statement caused a series of reactions in French public opinion, some positive and some negative.

Confession secrecy is not contrary to French criminal law

Bishop Eric de Moulins-Beaufort pointed out that the meeting was “the opportunity to recall that today, the secrecy of confession, imposed on priests by canon law, is not contrary to French criminal law, as the circular of the chancery of August 11, 2004.”

“Confession is also a moment when a victim, for example a child, can talk about what he has suffered and be certain of his innocence … because the certainty of secrecy allows him to deliver what is most important to him. This moment can then be, with the encouragement of the priest who receives this confession, a first step in the liberation of the word, outside the sacrament,” says a note from the French bishops. (EPC)

Compiled by Camille Mittermeier