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by AStonesThrow 406 days ago
No, a priest must never coerce a penitent to betray themselves. This would be tantamount to the priest betraying the penitent, don't you see?

Confessors are generally advised to assign satisfaction [penance] that consist of prayers or other strictly spiritual works, so that they are easily completed and remain entirely in the internal forum.

A priest who tried to withhold absolution from a penitent, on the condition of the penitent turning themselves in or confessing to secular authority, that priest would be sanctioned, up to the penalties for breaking the seal of confessional.