The French bishops have expressed grave concern over a proposed law to be debated in the National Assembly on Monday that would require ministers of religion to report information obtained in the confessional in cases involving violence against minors, effectively challenging the inviolable seal of Confession.
The bill, carried by the group Ensemble pour la République, led by the former Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, forms part of measures aimed at protecting children and combating violence in schools. Article 9 of the text explicitly states that ministers of religion would not be exempt from mandatory reporting obligations, even for information received “in the exercise of their ministry”, and that no appeal to the seal of Confession could override this duty.
