The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1855-11-07

dlrectiy OF tnalfectIyy 10 t0lS COURT Is
a Catholic priest ever justified, under
any circumstance in revealing the se-
crets of sacramental confession ? | an-
swer no that no power ON earth, civil
or ecclesiastical, spiritual or temporal,
can ever, under any circumstances, dis
pcnse with this perpetual obligation of
secresy i; SO that were Pope Plus the
Ninth in the court, aud if | can suppose
for a moment that he would so far abuse
his authority, and in the plentitude of
that authority ; as my first spiritual
superior on earth, should request, ad-
monish and command me to answer the
question proposed, my answer wauld be
to him what it was to Mr.. Gilmer-I
can say nothing about the matter. The
law which prohibits my revealing what
l learn In a sacramental confession,
Catholics believe to be divine, and to
emanate from God himself. 1t is tenet
of the Catholic church that Christ in-
stituted the seven Observation-Disclosures
more nor lees. Con forenS tn decrsto
ad ArDaenos. A d. 1899, Council of
Trent, Sept. 6, canon 1. It is also an
article Of Catholic faith that penance is
n of these sacraments, instituted by
Christ for the remission of sins commit
ted after baptism-Council of Trent,
Sept. IA, canons | and 6-that sacra-
mental confession forms an essential and
component part of this sac rament.A
Further, that the obligation of secresy
is essentially connected with the divine
institution of confession; for if it would
be lawful for a Catholic priest in any
case to reveal what was conided to him
in confession, the divine precept of the
confession would become entirely nuga-
tory, and there is nc person who would
be willing to disclose to.a priest an oe-
cult sin, which could be made public
and blacken his fair fame. Such a rerc-
~lation, if permitted, would be destruc-
tive of the divine precept of confession.
But as we cannot suppose that Christ,
the Eternal Wisdom Of the Eternal
Father, would pull down with one hand
what he erected with the other, and as
Catholics believe, instituted sacra-
confession-and for the purpose
Of confession secresy is absolutely neees-
conclude that inyiolable secre-
sy is commanded By our Lord in the OBJ
of secresy. II / were then so
far forgetful Of the solemn obligations
at my ordiuation-an obi
CATION not arising simply from e%cclesi-
but from a divine laH-not from
man, but directly from God-as to an
swer the question proposed, | should be
rendered Infamous in the eyes of tn
Catholic church, slammed BY every Ca'h-
bic, and l believe By every honorable
nan, no matter how far his religious
aud mine might differ ; Stunned I
md rendered infamous as a sacreligions
who trampled on his most holy T.
I'D solemn obligation, and violated the t
iacred laws of nature, of his God, aid of I
nan. [ would be forever deposed from {
he sacred ministry, aud where the COM
non law FERNS part of the civil law, be
ondcmaed to perpetual Imprisonment
n a monastery, there to repeut during
ay life the horrid crime I would have
ad o nmitted. And what is still mere
thaa all, | would violate the
of my conscience, that stubborn
l~onitor, whose voice would ever wills
fer to my soul black aud dire sacrilege.
might eudeavor TO smother its cry, bat
my attempts would ouiy add strcngtl
0 its terrible reproaches and warnings f:
you have committed sacrilegp of the
dye-sacrilege to be punished :
1rever By the yongeaa;e of a just aid
ffended Deity. | have endeavored thus il
D state my reasons as cl arly AID sim g
- as | could for not answering the /
uestion proposed. thank this honora--
lie court for the kind and patient hear
ig which it has extended to me What
vor may be its decision, l shall receive !
with reepect.
By this statement it appears that 10 I
can compel a Roman Catholic (
to dirulge what is communicated y
t confessional, even if the person con- q
.ssing it is dead and beyond reach of c,
uman law, or, if living, gives his con- do
mt. The Priest says am 60Mnd Ell
DC siic7s ufhtlbse.gh instant death acre il II
be the penalty Of my rgnS;no nj
nr or earth, cfrl or ecclesiastical, "
or temporal, can euer, uEder az
ay tircunlstances, dispense 1oiM This Ii
obligation Of sccyesy !" and in
guilty of exposing the secrets of the
this priest says he would
be condemned to perpetual imprison-
ISN'T an monastery, there to repent
my life the horrid crinse Isoouia z
gce committed )" aud after he had m
out a fslon's life, although in
e~nitenee and tears. he would be pun
he4 forerer By the eternal vengeance
-aJust and offended Deity. o.
1t may be we'll stated that this state .,
ent excited the nose intense surprise sc
it'll a crowded auditory, for the mag &c
alton would fail tn throw around the
'nfessioual in this enlightened age and
is enlightened country, SO dreadful
mystery as is here divulged