From public confession to private penance: How Catholic confession has evolved over centuries

"The Catholic sacrament of reconciliation, also known as penance or confession, has been a compelling set piece for fiction writers over the ages, from medieval novels to contemporary films. One reason the practice has intrigued both authors and audiences is the dramatic potential of the " seal of the confessional " - that is, the requirement that priests not disclose any identifying information about what they have heard during confession."

"Recently, this sacrament has garnered nonfictional attention. Washington state passed a law on reporting child abuse, which was scheduled to go into effect in July 2025. In some circumstances, the law requires clergy to report abuse or neglect, even if it is revealed during confession. On July 18, however, a federal judge put the law on hold, amid a lawsuit alleging the measure would violate First Amendment rights to religious freedom."

"Today, the most common form of confession takes place between a penitent and the "minister of the sacrament" - a priest or bishop. There may be a screen between the two, or they may sit across from one another without anonymity. At the beginning of the rite, the minister greets the penitent "with kindness," offers a prayer and sometimes reads from the Bible. The penitent then confesses the sins they believe they have committed since their last visit."

Alfred Hitchcock's film I Confess features an innocent priest who cannot clear his name because of the confessional seal. The Catholic sacrament of reconciliation, also called penance or confession, centers on private disclosure of sins to an ordained minister. The seal of the confessional forbids priests from revealing identifying information heard in confession. Washington state passed a law requiring clergy to report child abuse in some circumstances, even if disclosed in confession, and a federal judge temporarily blocked the law amid a lawsuit alleging First Amendment violations. The rite typically includes greeting, prayer, scripture reading, confession of sins, and pastoral counsel.

Read at The Conversation