A Topic of Moral Theology

The Obligation of the Sacramental Seal

The confessor's obligation of silence about everything he learns in confession.

Also asked about as…

can a priest ever reveal a confession · how strict is the seal · seal of confession obligation (ed.)

In the index as Sacramental seal · Seal of confession · A superior · Confessor · Opinion

In the manuals

Summa of Moral Theology (Summa Theologiae Moralis)

Vol. III, Book Fifth. On Penance., Ch. III, Question Three. Concerning…, Article Nine. Concerning the Obligation of Preserving the Sacramental Seal., n. 406 — 406. Definition of the Seal. The sacramental seal, or seal of confession, is defined: the obligation of the confessor of preserving silence concerning all things known from sacramental confession, the revelation of which… Read in context →

Vol. III, Book Fifth. On Penance., Ch. III, Question Three. Concerning…, Article Nine. Concerning t…, Section 1. Concerning the Obligation of the Seal., nn. 407 & 408 (2 passages — hover a number to read it)

Manual of Moral Theology (Manuale Theologiae Moralis)

Vol. II, Bk. III, Tr. V, Diss. II, Pt. II, Sect. I, Ch. II, Art. III, § I, Point I. On the Obligation of the Sacramental Seal, nn. 429, 430, 431, 432, 433 & 434 (6 passages — hover a number to read it)

Compendium of Moral Theology of Fr. John Peter Gury, S.J., with the Notes of Antonio Ballerini, S.J.

Vol. II, Treatise On the Sacrament …, Pt. III, Ch. II, Art. II, § II, Point I. On the Obligation of the Seal, nn. 647, 648, 649 & 650 (14 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. II, Treatise On the Sacrament …, Pt. III, Ch. II, Art. II, § II, Point II. On the Subject of the Seal, n. 652 (7 passages — hover a number to read it)

Synopsis of Moral and Pastoral Theology

Vol. I, Matrimony, and Holy Orders, On Penance (Volume I), Moral Part — Chapter II: On the Confessor, nn. 497, 498, 499, 500, 501 & 502 (6 passages — hover a number to read it)

Manuale Theologiae Moralis

Vol. III, Pt. II, Tr. V, Ch. III, Art. II, § 3, 2. On the Obligation of the Seal of Confession, n. 443 — 443. a) Notion of the seal. The sacramental seal, or the seal of confession, is the strictest obligation of preserving secrecy concerning all those things which were said by the penitent in order to sacramental absolutio… Read in context →

Pastoral Questions

Ch. IV, Question Third: Concerning…, Article I: Concerning the Obligation of the Sacramental Seal, nn. ¶3699–¶3715, ¶3770, ¶3771, ¶3772, ¶3773 & ¶3774 (22 passages — hover a number to read it)

Summa Theologiae Moralis

Vol. III, Special Moral Theology: On…, Treatise: On Penance, Fourth Part: On the Minist…, Question Three: On the Dut…, Article III: On the Duties after the Act of Confession, nn. 621, 622 & 623 (25 passages — hover a number to read it)

Treated under the broader heading The Seal of Confession — Slater, Manual of Moral Theology · McHugh–Callan, Moral Theology · Bucceroni, Institutions of Moral Theology · Bucceroni, Cases of Conscience · Koch–Preuss · Vermeersch, Theologia Moralis · Marc, Institutiones Morales · Konings, Theologia Moralis · Concina, Compendium · Slater, Cases II · The Roman Catechism · The Casuist · Slater, Back to Morality · Decretum of Gratian — these works do not divide the matter as finely as we do here, so their treatment stands one heading up (ed.)