Question: There are many Christian churches that do not have the Sacrament of Confession but advocate confessing directly to you. What is your opinion about this? Should the Sacrament of Confession be mandatory in all churches?
God’s answer:
Meaning: No, God is not mandating it but He is recommending it.
"In the Roman Catholic Church, the Seal of Confession (or Seal of the Confessional) is the absolute duty of priests not to disclose anything that they learn from penitents during the course of the Sacrament of Penance.
According to Roman Catholic canon law, "The sacramental seal is inviolable; therefore it is absolutely forbidden for a confessor to betray in any way a penitent in words or in any manner and for any reason." (983 §1) The confessor is always an ordained priest, because in the Catholic Church only ordained priests can absolve sins; lay confession is not recognized. Any lay members who overhear a confession (example: a translator) are likewise bound by the seal. (983§2)
Priests may not reveal what they have learned during confession to anyone, even under the threat of their own death or that of others. For a priest to break confidentiality would lead to a latae sententiae (automatic) excommunication, the lifting of which is reserved to the Holy See—in fact, to the Pope himself (Code of Canon Law, 1388 §1)."65
Question: Do you agree that if a person confesses to committing a crime or plans to commit a crime that a priest cannot reveal this information to anyone?
God’s answer:
Question: Why not?
God’s answer: