Catechism of the Catholic Church
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1467 Given the delicacy and greatness of this ministry and the respect due to persons, the Church declares that every priest who hears confessions is bound under very severe penalties to keep absolute secrecy regarding the sins that his penitents have confessed to him. He can make no use of knowledge that confession gives him about penitents' lives. 72 This secret, which admits of no exceptions, is called the "sacramental seal," because what the penitent has made known to the priest remains "sealed" by the sacrament.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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PART TWO: THE CELEBRATION OF THE CHRISTIAN MYSTERY |
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SECTION TWO: THE SEVEN SACRAMENTS OF THE CHURCH |
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CHAPTER TWO: THE SACRAMENTS OF HEALING |
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ARTICLE 4: THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE AND RECONCILIATION |
Notes for the above paragraph:
72 Cf. CIC, can. 1388 § 1; CCEO, can. 1456.
English Translation of the Cathechism of the Catholic Church for the United States of America © 1997, United States Catholic Conference, Inc.