AN article in the press has resulted in some confusion on the subject of “sacred secrets” that evoked a clear and distinct response from Monsignor Kenneth Richards of the Roman Catholic faith.

The confusion became evident in a letter to the Gleaner in which the author wrote: “I would like to suggest that the newspaper expands its investigations to include all denominational churches to see if this code of silence, and the refusal of leaders and heads of churches to divulge information obtained in counselling sessions, exist in terms of sharing pertinent information with law enforcement agencies and the courts when crimes are committed.”

The writer has failed to distinguish between the Roman Catholic Sacrament of Penance, also known as confession, forgiveness or Reconciliation, which are one and the same thing that is conducted in secret with the utmost privacy. This is nothing new and is practised around the world wherever some of the 1.2 billion Catholics are to be found.

It has been written that during the seventh century Irish missionaries, inspired by the Eastern monastic tradition, took to continental Europe the “private” practice of penance, which does not require public or prolonged completion of penitential works before reconciliation with the church. From that time on, the sacrament has been performed in secret between penitent and priest. This is the form of penance that the church has practised down to our day.

As Monsignor Kenneth Richards explained, every Roman Catholic priest is bound by the seal of sacred silence regarding the Sacrament of Penance that is inviolable. The power of forgiveness of sin flows directly from Christ’s solemn words to Simon Peter: “I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in Heaven.” This power was later assigned to the apostles after Christ’s resurrection when he gave the Holy Spirit to his apostles and conferred on them his own divine power to forgive sins: “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any they are retained.”

The relationship between penitent and priest is fundamentally different from that of counsellor and patient, who is not covered by the sacred seal of silence embedded in the Roman Catholic religion as pointed out by Monsignor Kenneth Richards which, according to the letter writer is “to justify their warped sense of duty”. Doctors and lawyers have their confidential code that maintains strict security of highly confidential information. However, these professions are not obligated under a sacred seal of silence and can, if their conscience dictates, relinquish information to the authorities.

Monsignor offers further amplification thus: “Canon 983.1 of the Code of Canon Law, the Catechism states, “It is a crime for a confessor in any way to betray a penitent by word or in any other manner or for any reason.” He continues: “A priest, therefore, cannot break the seal to save his own life, to protect his good name, to refute a false accusation, to save the life of another, to aid the course of justice (like reporting a crime), or to avert a public calamity. He cannot be compelled by law to disclose a person’s confession or be bound by any oath he takes, for example, as a witness in a court trial.” Monsignor points out that the individual could be denied absolution and be requested to see him in another context, such as counselling. In that situation the seal of confession is no longer binding and so he could then assist the authorities if required.

If the sacred seal were removed from confession, it would constitute a violation of religious trust and it is reasonable to presume that the Sacrament of Penance would be extinguished, for who would participate in the institution of Reconciliation if the sins confessed might be made public? Divulging secret information obtained in confession could foster combustible situations, particularly regarding marital and other intimate relationships which in Jamaica could have fatal consequences as illustrated by the fact that approximately 50 per cent of local homicides result from domestic violence.

It is therefore essential that the religious sanctity and trust of the sacrament of Reconciliation be preserved and respected in such a Christian country as Jamaica proclaiming to be followers of Jesus Christ, while recalling his life as follows:

“As a young man he gathered small groups before him to discuss the problems of the day. When he was but 30, because of his ideals and his philosophy, he was betrayed and forced to stand trial for his very life. When a friend denied him he was declared guilty and condemned to death.

“To add further to his betrayal and misery he was hanged between two thieves. But even through the pain and the mockery of the crowd he had words of solace for his companions in death.

“Centuries have come and gone and yet it is beyond question of dispute that all the armies that have ever been built, all the navies that have sailed the seas, the men who rule, the kings, the emperors, that presidents – together with the parliaments and the congresses haven’t contributed as much to the civilisation of mankind as this one solitary figure — the greatest leader of them all, Jesus of Nazareth.”