Fr. Paul D. ScaliaIt’s an old story: Monsignor Murphy is celebrating his fiftieth ordination anniversary. It’s a big affair and everyone turns out, as Monsignor has been in the same small town all those years. At the beginning of the evening Monsignor gives some remarks about how much he’s loved the priesthood but how shocking it was that the first confession he ever heard was of a murderer! The crowd laughs and the evening rolls on. Much later, the mayor arrives. As politicians do, he gets up to say a few words. He extols Monsignor’s priestly life and ministry. Then to the shock of the crowd he reveals, “Monsignor doesn’t know this, but mine was the first confession he ever heard!”  

This story is told to illustrate, in a lighthearted way, the inviolability of the seal of the sacrament of confession and to impress that teaching on the minds of faithful and priests alike. In light of recent assaults on that seal, the wisdom of the story merits revisiting. …