Why do we confess to priests?

For the Catholic Church, the intent of this sacrament is to provide healing for the soul as well as to regain the grace of God, lost by sin. … The sinner may also confess venial sins; this is especially recommended if the penitent has no mortal sins to confess.

Is confession legally protected?

In United States law, confessional privilege is a rule of evidence that forbids the inquiry into the content or even existence of certain communications between clergy and church members. It grows out of the common law and statutory enactments which may vary between jurisdictions.

Can a priest call the cops?

In many cases, the rule of evidence of confessional privilege forbids judicial inquiry into communications made under the seal of confession. … However, the Court later ruled that a priest has no duty to report confidential information heard during a sacramental confession.

What are priests required to report?

The law currently requires clergy to report whenever, “in their professional capacity or within the scope of their employment,” they have “knowledge of or observe a child whom the mandated reporter knows or reasonably suspects has been the victim of child abuse or neglect, except when the clergy acquires the knowledge …

Do priests have a duty to warn?

010(1), explicitly exempts pastors from any duty to report such privileged communications. In California, absent a waiver [Ca Evid & 912], both clergy and penitent – whether or not parties to the action – have a privilege to refuse to disclose a “penitential” communication. [Ca Evid & 1033, 1034].