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 on June 21, 2019, by Pope Francis, which explains 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, in spite of civil law, as a matter of de fide dogma, and as part of freedom of religion and freedom of conscience. The aim of the Note is to fortify the assurance of trust on the part of people who go to confession.
Internal forum At the presentation of the Note, Pope Francis explained the meaning of the canon law term "internal forum":
Responses Reuters, KATV, The Wall Street Journal, The Irish Times, and CBS News were among the media outlets to say that the Vatican was failing to fight clerical sex abuse by not weakening the sacramental seal. The Catholic News Agency welcomed the document, describing it as a reminder of the teachings of the Catholic Church.
See also Priest–penitent privilege
References
External links English: Presentation of the Note of the Apostolic Penitentiary on the importance of the internal forum and the inviolability of the sacramental seal Italian: Note of the Apostolic Penitentiary on the importance of the internal forum and the inviolability of the sacramental seal