Letter: Confidence in the confessional

Sir: Thank you for your insightful analysis of the role of the priest in the sacrament of Penance ('Breaking the code of absolute silence', 28 December). Your sensitive handling of a subject much trivialised by certain aspects of the media was most welcome.

You are correct in saying that absolution may be denied - but only when a penitent refuses to be sorry for sins committed. Once such penitence is expressed and confessed, followed by a 'firm purpose of amendment', a priest cannot deny absolution. He most certainly would advise and encourage one who has committed a serious crime to inform the appropriate authorities, but he could not make absolution conditional on such an action.

Yours faithfully,

GEORGE STACK

Westminster Cathedral

London, SW1

29 December