PENANCE 167 



ARTICLE 5 



THE SEAL OF CONFESSION 



1. Definition. — By the seal of confession 

 (sigillum confessionis, secretum sacrament ale) 

 is understood the obligation of keeping secret 

 knowledge gained through sacramental confes- 

 sion. 1 



2. Source of the Obligation. — The seal of 

 confession binds the confessor and (per accidens) 

 all others who have knowledge of the matter of a 

 sacramental confession through whatever means. 

 It is absolute and, per se, admits of no exception. 



As for the penitent, though not bound by the 

 seal, he is obliged to treat confessional matter as 

 a natural secret, so far at least as the dignity of 

 the Sacrament or regard for the confessor de- 

 mand. 



The obligation of the seal rests on the natural, 

 on positive divine, and on ecclesiastical law. 2 



1 Cfr. H. Busembaum, S.J., Me- ligatio inviolabiliter servandi sigillum 

 dulla Theol. Mor., 1. VI, tr. 4, c. 3: confessionis. Constat (0 ex iure 

 "Sigillum hoc est obligatio iuris di- naturali, et quidem triplici titulo, 

 vini strictissima in omni casu, etiam nempe ex caritate, ex iustitia, ex 

 quo integri regni salus periclitare- religione; (2) ex iure divino posi- 

 tur, ad tacendum (etiam post mortem tivo, saltern implicite, nam ex insti- 

 poenitentis) dicta in confessione (id tutione Christi confessio seer eta esse 

 est in ordine ad absolutionem sacra- debet, ergo eo ipso a Christo imposita 

 mentalem) omnia, quorum revelatio est confessariis obligatio sigilli ser- 

 sacramentum redderet onerosum vel vandi; (3) ex iure ecclesiastico; con- 

 odiosum." (Ed. Tornac, 1876; Vol. stat ex variis iuris canonici locis, 



I. P- 573). praesertim ex Concilio Lateranensi 



2 Cfr. Gury, Comp. Theol. Mor., quarto, c. zi: 'Utriusque sexus,' 



II, n. 495: "Datur strictissima ob- ubi dicitur: 'Caveat autem omnino 



