Questions to the Moralist - Personal Web Server - Boston College

discernment. I'll do this, however, without indicating where my example comes from, so
I won't put you or anyone else on the spot.
Thanks,
Fr. Jim
Dear Father,
You have said in our previous meeting that we have to safeguard life at all times. In our
example wherein the owner of the house has to say to the soldiers that the person they are
looking for is not in his house because he has the duty to safeguard life...he did not
lie...because the truth is that one must protect life...What about in this situation: When I
become a priest someday and I will officiate at a wedding...then the future couple first go
to confession...then the man confessed that he is married to another woman...what am I
supposed to do? I am sandwiched between seal of confession and saving the life of the
woman from possible destruction...
thanks,
Fr. Bretzke replies,
This sort of case which you bring up involves a number of canonical and pastoral
principles that you will no doubt be taking in your canon law and ad auds courses. The
answer to your question is more "canonical" than "moral," but let me briefly address it.
As a priest everything you hear in the confessional is bound by the seal, and this is
sacrosanct. On the other hand, if a man tells you in the confessional that he is already
married then if he were to attempt a second marriage that marriage would be invalid. As
a priest you would have to tell him that his marriage would be invalid, and you yourself
should not officiate at a public wedding which you would know would be invalid. On the
other hand you cannot reveal what the man says to you to anyone else, so the key to this
case is trying to reason with the man to get him to see that his marriage would be invalid
if he were to attempt it. Still, when all is said and done, you may not betray the seal of
the confessional
. There are several canons which speak to this issue, which I could go over with you if
you wish (if you want to do this please make an appointment to see me, and bring me a
copy of the Code of Canon Law, since I didn't bring mine with me to the Philippines).
Hope this helps,
Fr. Jim
Fr. Jim,
I would like to ask you about the principle of compromise that you have in your notes
and in your book. Is it different from the principle of choosing the lesser evil? Is it more
like an attitude (like the principle of tolerance) or is it a detailed, structured principle (like
the principle of double effect)?
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