A controversy-embroiled American diocese has concluded that a priest did not breach conduct policies during confessions with pupils at a local Catholic secondary school, following complaints from several families who alleged their daughters were asked inappropriate questions during the sacrament in late December.

The determination was announced by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte in North Carolina after an internal review into concerns raised about conversations that took place during confessions at Charlotte Catholic High School in December 2025.

In a statement provided to Catholic media, diocesan officials said they had examined the allegations and found no evidence that the priest’s conduct violated established pastoral or safeguarding policies. The priest involved has not been publicly identified.

The complaints were submitted by several parents whose daughters attend the school. According to accounts reported by local media, the families said the priest asked “unexpected and personal questions” during the sacrament of reconciliation, including questions relating to sexual conduct. One father alleged that his daughter had been asked about sexual sins despite having confessed unrelated matters. Another parent said her daughter had been asked whether she had ever had a sexual relationship with a boy.

The families reported their concerns to school administrators and diocesan authorities shortly after the incidents occurred. While the diocese acknowledged that the conversations had caused discomfort to some pupils, it maintained that priests are permitted to ask clarifying questions during confession in order to assist penitents in making a complete examination of conscience.

The local ordinary, Bishop Michael Martin, also wrote to the families involved, expressing regret that the experience had been unsettling. In his correspondence, he explained that penitents sometimes approach the sacrament without a full awareness of potential sins and that priests may raise common moral issues in an age-appropriate manner to assist them in recalling matters requiring confession.

Bishop Martin’s handling of diocesan governance has previously drawn attention from some clergy and lay faithful, particularly in relation to liturgical policy. In recent years, measures affecting the celebration of the Traditional Latin Mass prompted organised expressions of concern from parishioners and priests who argued that restrictions had been implemented too swiftly or without sufficient consultation. Diocesan officials, for their part, maintained that the changes were undertaken in accordance with directives from the Holy See and were intended to promote unity and consistent pastoral practice across parishes. However, rubrics of the liturgy Bishop Martin sought to suppress were expressly permitted by Vatican II’s Sacrosanctum Concilium.

He further reminded families that priests are strictly bound by the sacramental seal, which forbids disclosure of anything heard in confession under any circumstances. This restriction, Church officials noted, can limit a priest’s ability to respond publicly to specific allegations arising from the sacrament.

Despite the diocese’s findings, some parents expressed dissatisfaction with the response, stating that they felt their concerns had not been fully addressed. One mother told local reporters that she believed the issue had been minimised, while another emphasised that she remained committed to the Catholic faith but wished to see clearer pastoral safeguards in place.

In its concluding statement, the diocese reiterated that confession remains a voluntary sacrament offered within Catholic schools as part of religious formation, and that priests are expected to exercise pastoral sensitivity at all times. Officials added that guidance on appropriate conduct in the confessional has been reinforced among clergy in the diocese following the incident.