On the afternoon of 17 November, General Synod of the Church of England is to debate a motion to “take note of” the draft Guidelines for the Professional Conduct of the Clergy, (GS 1970), which include the treatment of the ministry of absolution (i.e. confession) as outlined in GS Misc 1085. It is pertinent, therefore, to note that the Roman Catholic Apostolic Penitentiary[1] sponsored a conference at the Vatican, November 12-13, on “The Confessional Seal and Pastoral Privacy”, summaries of which are reported in L’Osservatore Romano and The Catholic Herald. Continue reading →