text: But the bishop and the priest still have to know the name of the woman involved.  The priest literally has to ask the woman her name and communicate it to his superior.  This means that the person is publicly known and labelled with a specific sin in the way any other sinner isn't.  For any other sin to be absolved, the penitent doesn't have to tell the priest his/her name.  In fact, the penitent doesn't even have to show the priest his/ her face.  There is a reason why metal grilles exist in Confessionals.