Pastoral confidentiality and privileged communication
Modern pastoral work is also carried out through email, messaging apps and contact forms. Clergy receive messages concerning matters requiring the highest degree of confidentiality.
Clergy receive messages concerning, among others:
Such communication cannot be treated as an ordinary data set intended for automatic analysis. Where justified grounds exist to suspect a specific individual of a crime, the relevant authorities should act in accordance with the law and under judicial oversight — but this must not lead to automatic analysis of all communication carried out by churches and religious communities.