Hans Zollner raises important questions about the seal of confession (“How to save the seal”, 20 November). I note his recommendations about inviting discussion of safeguarding issues outside the confessional. There are questions and confusions wider than those pertaining to safeguarding, though.

If a penitent comes to a priest after a confession, should it be considered as a new, fresh conversation? One text used at seminary instructed that a penitent allows the priest to break the seal by speaking to him after the confession. Is that really so? Others say that anything carried on outside the confession is still under the seal and not just a matter of confidentiality. One point of view is that nothing should ever be discussed with a penitent afterwards, even when they try to bring the subject up.