The Patron Saint of Confessions

Frida Ghitis: Saint John Vianni was tortured for refusing to tell the king what his wife's confessions were. She says he refused because God is the one who forgives, not us. The church has said there's this thing we call the seal of confession, she says. It means that a priest may never, ever reveal what he's heard in confession.Ghitis: But Jesus Christ establishes this as a gift that he's given to the church. So you and I don't have any fear about approaching the Lord and asking for forgiveness through the mediation of the priests.