Short Horror Story Review – Alex Bell – The Confession
@arthurchappell (44941)
Preston, England
October 26, 2015 10:38am CST
2015 Robinsons / Mammoth Press Spoiler alerts
As is well known a Catholic priest is not allowed to divulge to anyone the secrets and sins confessed to him in the church confessional, in the hope of absolution, but what would you do if you were a priest in London in 1889 and the confessor was Jack The Ripper?
That is the horrible dilemma facing the young East End priest in this creepy story. Should he tell or not? The dilemma in his duty begins to play with his sanity, but then, was he always mad anyway?
A very original often gory take on the grizzly unsolved murders, but can the priest ever bring what he knows to the authorities?
Arthur Chappell
2 people like this
2 responses
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
26 Oct 15
I believe there has been some rulings since then, that right to privacy and such only applies to things in the past, if people are still in danger, counselors and such at least, are required by law to tell.
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@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
26 Oct 15
I think that is the case now for Samaritans, etc. - not sure about clergymen.
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@topffer (42155)
• France
26 Oct 15
The seal of confession for Catholic priests is recognized by many countries, including USA.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search In United States law, confessional privilege is a rule of evidence that forbids the inquiry into the content or even existence of certain communications between clergy and communicants. It g
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
26 Oct 15
@topffer I would hope, religious men or not, they would break this to save lives.
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@topffer (42155)
• France
26 Oct 15
It looks like an interesting book. A priest divulging the secret of the confession risks "a latae sententiae excommunication reserved to the Apostolic See" (Code of Canon Law, Canon 1388). Honestly, do you think that the Pope would take a decree to excommunicate a priest violating the sacramental seal to report a criminal like Jack the Ripper ? I remember to have spoken with a priest about this, and he said that he would find a way to report the criminal anonymously...
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@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
26 Oct 15
short story rather than a novel - it would be a horrible dilemma for any priest to face a serial killer like that
2 people like this
