Confession is sacred

THE kneejerk reaction of the Government to the Cloyne Report and their intention to bring a bill to the Dáil, forcing priests to report to the gardaí incidents of child abuse heard during the sacrament of confession, just shows how this government misunderstands the purpose of the sacrament.

Either they have allowed the avowed atheists in their midst to influence them or they have no idea of the religion in which they profess to believe.

A priest is not allowed to reveal, under pain of mortal sin, what he hears in confession to anyone.