Oregon priest recounts legal battle to preserve seal of confession

August 27, 2009

Father Timothy Mockaitis, a priest of Archdiocese of Portland, has written a book recounting his legal battle with prison officials to preserve the seal of the Sacrament of Penance after he discovered that the 1996 confession of an inmate had been taped. The Ninth Circuit US Court of Appeals eventually rule unanimously on the Church’s behalf.

“No incident as is described in The Seal had ever come before a court of law in this country,” Father Mockaitis said in an interview. “The late William F. Buckley wrote, in his estimation, this action was ‘naked fascism, truly the end of the line.’”

 

---

For all current news, visit our News home page.

---

 
Further information:

• Seal of Confession Goes on Trial (Zenit)
• The Seal: A Priest’s Story by Timothy J. Mockaitis
• Taping of religious confession ruled illegal (Christian Century, 1997)