Seal of the Confessional

Question from James on 2/5/2008:  
Recently in a discussion of confession with a non- Catholic friend, the subject of confidentiality of the confessional came up.

She asked if someone confessed to a priest a serious crime such as murder, would the priest report them to the police.

I told her no because the seal of the confessional was absolute in all cases. However, the priest would probably advise to the person to turn themselves in to help right the wrong. And if the person refused [was unrepentant] they would be denied absolution, but the priest could not break the confessional seal. Was I explaining this correctly?

She then retorted that she didn't think the this made any sense. She said used the example that doctors and lawyers are bound by client confidentiality but are still required by law to report knowledge of crimes. She asked "Are you telling me that priests are above the law?" At this point I didn't really have a good answer for her. How should I've explained this?

Thank you
Answer by Fr. Robert J. Levis on 2/5/2008: 
James, The priest is working under a divine mandate or command. YOu are quite correct in your post. No governmental ordinance is competent to cover this divine order of the confessional seal. What is told in confession cannot ever be revealed. It is interesting today that, in spite of the great loss of priests from their ministry, you can't find any evidence of the seal of the confessional being broken. F. Bob Levis