So in the last episode of House at one point Chase goes to confession and confesses his crimes to the priest.  He does it in such a way that anyone paying attention to the news would know exactly who he was or at least be able to narrow it down to a small handfull of people.

At that point, the wife asked me (since I'm catholic even though I haven't been to confession in 15-20 years) if you confess a crime to a priest if they have to turn you in to the police?

I actually don't know and I'm just curious about that. 

The priest on the show didn't, but we already know that House really isn't based in reality most of the time with events like that.  I know psychiatrist do, but I don't know about priests since there's that whole seperation of church and state and confession is anonymous (for instance, if the priest tries to do something, what's to stop you from just running?).

I'm sure since there's no contract or anything, that it'll be ok for the priest to report the crime. IDK if they're obligated... if we're obligated to report crimes in general, then yes I guess.

I don't think privacy is an issue unless a contract asking for it is signed.

Lol, I'm not a law student or anything I'm trying to answer your question XD you're not going to get anything substantial here.

For a priest here in Denmark, anything told during a confession is strictly confidential, and the church belongs under the government. I have no idea how it works in the US, though I imagine it would be something along those lines.

I don't think a priest can turn you in for a confession. I don't think it has to do with law so much as their theology.
btw, that was a great episode of House...is it just me or is this the best season yet?

Yeah, what is spoken in confession is spoken under strict confidence that the priest will stay silent. They are morally and theologically obligated to not repeat anything you tell them in confession. Unless specified otherwise by the confessor, of course.

And wtf happened with Chase? I've missed every episode since the season opener. What'd he do??

He killed someone.

It's pretty much what everyone else said. Religious obligations, Christian code, blah blah blah.

Off-Topic: Great episode. I can't wait until the episode where Chase is busted.

Go, fly to Fox .com and reap the glory that is the first three episodes, then run to surfthechannel.com and watch the episode from monday, it will be time well spent.

Clergy in MOST states have the same kind of confidentiality as spouses and lawyers.

It's one thing about being a priest that would suuuuuck.  Could you imagine like... someone confessing to you that they sexually abuse their kids or something?  How the hell could you not turn him in?  Talk about a test of fate.

That situation by the way, being the one that usually is the deal breaker in most states.  Violence against children or like... I think the government sometimes priests have to report.

I have heard rumors of Cameron leaving the show so I wonder if this has to do with it if those rumors are true. I do wonder how it will come out. It's house, it will come out.

Generally speaking confidentiality goes out the window with an act of violence against someone who cannot defend themselves. Typically kids, old folks, and disabled people. I don't know how this applies specifically to priests, but that is how it applies with other proffessions.