The objective of this article is to analyze a case of breaking the sacramental seal in Quito at the end of the 16th century. The methodology is based on an examination of the norms prohibiting confessors from violating the sacramental seal, as outlined in the decrees of ecumenical and provincial councils, as well as in the First Synod of Quito (1570). Additionally, it explores the process of selecting confessors conducted by Bishop Pedro de la Peña in 1574, which required the reading of manuals that emphasized the prohibition of breaking the seal of confession. The exams also addressed political circumstances that could jeopardize the sacramental secret, requiring confessors to act with prudence. These guidelines are then contrasted with a specific case from the Alcabala Revolt, which threw Quito into turmoil in 1594. In this context, a confessor broke the seal of confession by appearing before the Court of the Real Audiencia to disclose information obtained during the administration of the sacrament. This study demonstrates that political pressures, driven by the imperative to preserve the “siguridad de la tierra”, ultimately led to the sacrifice of the inviolability of the sacramental seal.
