2. About the Second Conclusion

86. Proof of the second conclusion [n.65], namely that the priest is bound by positive divine Law:

First as follows: every Christian is bound not to give to another an occasion by which he may be called away from a law of Christ; there is a law of Christ about making confession, as was shown in d.17 [nn.48-57]; therefore everyone is bound not to draw another away from making confession; but he who reveals a confession, once the occasion has been given, draws back others from confession.

87. If you say that although this priest reveal [a confession] yet another will be a hider of the secret - this is nothing, because this priest, as far as his own part is concerned, gives occasion to the other to be wary of individual confessors in the same way.That is, someone who hears a priest reveal to him a secret of another’s confession will now himself avoid confession for fear that his own secrets will be revealed by any priest he confesses to. ⁶⁴

88. Again second thus: Christ establishment the judgment of penitence to be on earth the final one as to confessed crime. This is plain from the verse of Matthew 16.19, “Whatever you loose on earth will be loosed also in heaven,” that is, it will be finally and ultimately approved, and from John 20.23, “Whose sins you remit     etc .,” supply: sins remitted receive final approval in divine judgment. Therefore     , whoever takes something discussed and ended finally in this forum [of confession] to another forum sins against the Law of Christ; but he who reveals [a confession] makes it, as far as concerns himself, something that could be taken to another forum, namely the public forum;     therefore etc     .

89. Third as follows: he who gives occasion to sin mortally in the carrying out of a precept of Christ sins mortally because, as far as concerns himself, he makes what needed to be duly carried out to be unduly carried out; but he who reveals a confession gives occasion for unduly carrying out the precept of Christ about confession, because occasion for doing it deceitfully; because he gives occasion for someone to praise himself in confession and to blame another whom he hates, so that thus he himself may by the confessor be unworthily promoted and the other punished;     therefore etc     .