Well, he’s right that the seal of the confessional is inviolate. As for the rest of it, he probably thought he was helping a family in need, parents who had lost a daughter.
If, as seems likely, they are guilty of killing her, the police need to find other ways to prove it. Even if the priest broke his vows, that would still only be hearsay.
Was it the family or the media? My guess is the media.
True - and so much so, that a priest is not allowed to say whether or not he has heard a person's confession - much less what it may contain.
So this priest is the focus of many rumours, and can't even clariffy his position. It must be very stressful, and I hope things improve for him soon.
Exactly. And any physical evidence obtained from a lead available only through the confessional would be deemed inadmissable, at least in the US.
I suspect they didn't confess, but probably didn't need to--any more than I need to have the priest tell me in words what he suspects. Taking down all the ribbons and all trace of the search for the little girl says it.
likely? on what evidence? if they did, why would they confess to him? They are British so probably not even Catholic. I suspect these reports, like everything to do with this case, are greatly exaggerated and sensationalized. The priest is likely just fine except for being sick and tired of the publicity, and doesn’t know any more than anyone else who is responsible.