The heroism of our priests

On February 28th, the Washington State Senate approved a bill which punishes with imprisonment priests who do not violate the secrecy of confession in cases of abuse. Beyond the legal and political debate, there is one thing that shines brightly in the midst of this storm: the unwavering fidelity of priests to sacramental secrecy.

We live in times in which the Church is singled out for its shadows. No one can deny that there are miseries in the past and present, but in this case we are not talking about a negative stain, but an inspiring light. In a world where discretion is scarce and trust is sold cheap, the priest remains a firm rock in the confessional, guarding secrets that do not belong to him, willing even to go to jail rather than break his commitment to God and to souls.

Think about it for a moment: in an age of leaks, rumors, instant news and digital spying, priests are among the few men who still understand what it means to seal lips. Isn't this worthy of admiration?

While some legislate from their comfortable seats and dictate norms that ignore the depth of the sacrament, there are priests who continue to bow down in the confessional to receive with mercy every repentant soul. It does not matter if the one who kneels is a beggar or a king, a stranger or a close friend. The priest listens, absolves, encourages... and keeps silent. He remains silent even under threat, because he understands that what is happening there is a sacred act between God the Father and one of his children.

Long live the faithful priests. Those who, with defects and weaknesses like everyone else, know that their mission is not to betray but to serve, not to speak but to heal. And since we are in Lent, perhaps it is the perfect opportunity for the laity to remember the value of this sacrament and to encourage us to confess. Let us queue up at the confessionals and rediscover the miracle of mercy. For if they risk so much to keep the secret, isn't what goes on in there really important?