I believe now a day's they do have their limits and I believe this one would be a ' Yes Hi Cazhead +5

Could they? Yes. Should they? Yes. Would they? Probably not.

I think that RC Canon law forbids breaking the silence of the confessional. So could they? Not by RC doctrine? Should they? I believe so. The person should be told that there will be no absolution unless reparation is made, and they hand themselves in. The priest should accompany the person to the police. If the person refuses to go to the police, then the priest should be able to say- then I have no choice but to report you. Mind you, a murderer might then kill the priest to prevent them talking. But that is hypothetical since RC law is firm. Would they? No. THey would not, if they are following RC law.

I believe they fall under the same confidentiality agreement that lawyers and psychiatrists do... don't they? If they violated that trust, they would lose all credibility. What they can do is encourage the person to turn themselves in and while they are seeking forgiveness from God, to also seek forgiveness from the authorities and the people they harmed. If he is a wanted man, there is nothing preventing the priest from turning the man in if he shows up at church, but what he confesses will not be shared... if he's wanted, he's already tied to the murder anyways. Perhaps an anonymous tip? That might allow the priest to have an eased conscience, but might give himself away to the killer if he gets arrested shortly after confessing to a priest. I believe there should be exceptions to confidentiality agreements to include just such an occassion that involves felonious events like murder, rape, child molestation, etc.

I believe people who commit terrible crimes -- or any crimes, for that matter -- should be held accountable. But I also believe in the concept of sanctuary. If a person truly believes the path to God is through his priest, that path shouldn't be obstructed. I think the priest should and would advise the person to turn himself in, but I don't think he should be forced to break the holy confidentiality afforded in the confessional. There are some things beyond man's reach. That said, I think a priest should -- and might -- inform the police if an ongoing crime against a person or persons were being committed, such as abuse, molestation, rape, etc.

Before commencement, both parties (mainly priest) agrees to confidentiality. The priest promises to keep every thing said a secret. He has to honour this, or all trust will be lost, and people would no longer come to ask for repentance. Besides, no matter how large the crime, the fact that he came to see the priest says something. If he was some psycho, who didn't want to change, he wouldn't have gone to the priest in the first place. And I'm sure the priest also believes in "forgive and forget". In conclusion, No.

No, they cannot tell. There is a Seal Of Confession which says that they cannot reveal ANYTHING said in Confession. EVEN to another priest. So if a person confessed he murdered A-Rod, the priest could not tell. If he did tell, he would lose his job. I'm not sure, but the evidence may be discredited because of the Seal of Confession.

A priest cannot break the seal of the confessional for any reason, to do so is a very serious offense, a breach of trust. For a priest to break confidentiality would lead to a latae sententiae (automatic) excommunication, the lifting of which is reserved to the Holy See - in fact, to the Pope himself (Code of Canon Law, 1388 §1). It is presumed such a breach could be forgiven only with the lifting of the authority of that priest to ever hear confessions again, and a requirement that the priest undertake an extended period of penance, perhaps in a monastery. A priest will usually strongly encourage a person to go to the proper authorities, he may withhold absolution from someone who refuses to do so. Should a priest inform the authorities? If he were to judge for himself, when would he not feel it his duty? If someone confessed rape? Burglary? Tax evasion? Adultery? It is not the place of the priest to make these decisions, and is essential that the seal of confession remains intact. The seal has been used in the past by members of the IRA who will inform a priest of a bomb that has been planted, and give him permission to tell the authorities of the location, enabling evacuation without putting the informer at risk of being caught. A priest is only required to observe the seal in confession, if he is informed of illegal activity outside the confessional he can decide to pass on his knowledge.

If the murderer will not then absolutely yes. Breaking of the law requires the law to punish the perpetrator.

They could... If they should is debatable, but I doubt they will any time soon :)

They can't. If they do they will go to hell. A priest told me that. What they will do in this situation is get the murderer to confess on their own or at least turn themselves into the police. Whether they should or not is another issue. But they can't as of right now. But, they can try to persuade some one to do the right thing.

they could they should but not always would ..

Yes they must. Nowhere in the Bible is there anything alluding to a "seal of confession" which somehow gives a priest some leeway not to obey the laws of man. It is yet another Catholic blaspheme that came about nearly 1100 years after Christ.