Lawyer person here:
1. If a lawyer is told by a client that the client committed a crime (past tense), the lawyer is duty-bound by confidentiality not to say anything about it.
2. The lawyer cannot, however, represent to the court that the client did not commit the crime. (This doesn’t mean the lawyer can’t question the sufficiency of the evidence and cross-examine and present evidence of alternate scenarios. In other words, “There’s not enough evidence my client did X” is fine. “My client didn’t do X” isn’t.
3. The lawyer also can’t help hide any evidence.
4. Religious privilege is really rooted in priest-penitent privilege. Without splitting a bunch of ecclesiastical hairs, the Catholic faith believes that when you speak with your priest it is a conduit to God, and hence is not discoverable. Other faiths, which do not carry that belief, do not have the same privilege. So, if you’re a Catholic, it’s safe to blab to your priest about your misdeeds; if you’re a Methodist or Lutheran or pretty much anything else, I’d think twice about it.
Thank you. I appreciate your answer and the time you gave giving it.
“So, if you’re a Catholic, it’s safe to blab to your priest about your misdeeds; if you’re a Methodist or Lutheran or pretty much anything else...........”
Going to confession is not the same as ‘blabbing to a priest’. If the person confessing thinks it is, then it is an invalid confession. A strong sense of remorse is needed to be forgiven any sins. Only God will know if that remorse id sincere. The priest is an intermediary between the sinner and God giving the penitent counseling, and advise for spiritual strength. Part of that advice is to make the good for the bad behavior - go to the police, ask forgiveness from the person you wrongs, return stolen property, etc.
Confession is not magic, but it is a mystical thing in that it involves our spirit and God. God does not forgive chameleons.