Note on the Importance of the Internal Forum and the Inviolability of the Sacramental Seal

The Note on the Importance of the Internal Forum and the Inviolability of the Sacramental Seal is a July 1, 2019 document of the Apostolic Penitentiary, approved for promulgation by Pope Francis on June 21, 2019. It states that the internal forum of the sacrament of penance is sacred and that the inviolability of the seal of the confessional in the Catholic Church is absolute, regardless of civil law, as a matter of de fide dogma and as part of freedom of religion and conscience. Its stated aim is to fortify the trust of those who go to confession. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/