Holy Confession is a Sacrament in the Orthodox and Catholic churches.
It is usually practiced in these churches as private and auricular (in the audible hearing of the priest), even in cases where corporate confession and absolution is also strongly practiced (as in the Syriac and Malankarra traditions).
The following questions are asked in general about this Sacrament, as well as specifically toward the Syriac and Malankarra Orthodox traditions, which are the author's own heritage and home.
Since Confession covers both vices and crimes, does the prescribed Penance involve restitution (to the victim) in the case of a crime, or would it involve only personal acts of contrition, penitence, devotion, etc. even in that case?
Are priests obligated to prescribe that the penitent involve and inform the State, as a part of their penance?
Are priests contractually (for e.g. legally) obligated to inform and involve the State directly, in the case of a crime that is of interest to the State, by virtue of being spoken of in its laws?
Does the Church teach that priests are morally obligated to inform and involve the State, in the above case?
How about in cases where the penitent confesses to breaking a law of the ruling State, but is not actually guilty of a crime (e.g. conducting a valid business without a license, hiding a religious minority from persecution, trading with someone without paying a tax, building a deck without a permit, etc.)? This begs a deeper question : does the Church teach a distinction between an objective crime and something that is considered a crime, in the eyes of the State?
Do the answers given above apply broadly to every and any type of government that has existed in the lived history of the Church -- secular democracy, Islamic theocracy, Christian monarchy, secular monarchy, Hindu monarchy, Hindu-majority parliamentary democracy, Muslim-majority parliamentary democracy, Islamic Republic, atheist dictatorship, Islamic emirate, etc. -- as well as anything that will come in the future? Or, do the answers change depending on the situation?
