Why the French Catholic Church is against lifting the seal of confession
The French Catholic Church expressed relief after lawmakers decided not to lift the seal of confession in a recent bill aimed at protecting children. The proposed legislation, known as the 'Bétharram' bill, sought to require priests to report sexual crimes against minors disclosed during confession. Church officials argue that such a requirement would violate their theological principles and the freedom of conscience.
- ▪The Assemblée Nationale debated the 'Bétharram' bill concerning child protection.
- ▪Article 9 of the bill proposed lifting the confidentiality of confession for reporting sexual crimes.
- ▪Bishop Matthieu Rougé emphasized the importance of confidentiality in the sacrament of confession.
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The Catholic high school 'Le Beau Rameau' in Lestelle-Bétharram (Pyrénées-Atlantiques), February 21, 2025. GAIZKA IROZ/AFP The Catholic Church in France held its breath until nearly midnight on Monday, June 1, worried that lawmakers might interfere with a central element of its theology: the sacrament of confession. In the Assemblée Nationale, MPs debated the bill intended to "protect children and combat violence in schools," commonly known as the "Bétharram" bill, drafted after a parliamentary inquiry sought for months to understand how such abuses could have occurred at the school of the same name in southern France.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Le Monde (EN).
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