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 ge

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.