What a person tells a priest or pastor in confession or pastoral care is protected by German law, even against the state. Section 138 of the Criminal Code obliges everyone to report certain planned serious crimes. Section 139 makes an exception: Ein Geistlicher ist nicht verpflichtet anzuzeigen, was ihm in seiner Eigenschaft als Seelsorger anvertraut worden ist. “A clergyman is not obliged to report what was entrusted to him in his role as pastor.” Under the Code of Criminal Procedure, clergy may also refuse to testify about it in court.