YOUNGSTOWN (OH)
WKBN
The Catholic Diocese of Youngstown released a statement on Thursday explaining the sacred laws of confession after a story that ran in the Youngstown Vindicator on Thursday stated a priest did not report child abuse allegations to police.
The victim, who is now 34, was 15 at the time. She allegedly told Rev. Michael Seifert during a confession that her stepfather, Michael Parent, raped her. Parent was sentenced to 13 years in prison earlier this week because of the assaults.
The Diocese said if the victim confided during confession, the seal of confession cannot be broken under any circumstance.
“It is because of the sacred nature of that sacrament, the content of it, that it is protected by the seal of confession in church law, and respected by civil law,” said Fr. John Jerek of the Diocese of Youngstown.
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