ABC News ➠ Queensland priests are being compelled to break the seal of the confessional to protect children.

 
Priests in Queensland will now be compelled to break the seal of confession to report child sexual abuse or face three years in jail.

Key points:

  • The law was passed with the support of the Opposition
  • It enacts a recommendation of the child sexual abuse royal commission
  • Police Minister Mark Ryan says it will help protect vulnerable children

New laws passed through Queensland Parliament will force members of the clergy to report known or suspected cases of abuse to police.

The legislation means religious institutions and their members are no longer able to use the sanctity of confessional as a defence or excuse in child sex abuse matters.

Police Minister Mark Ryan said the laws would ensure better protection for vulnerable children.

"The requirement and quite frankly the moral obligation to report concerning behaviours towards children applies to everyone everyone in this community," he said.

"No one group or occupation is being singled out.

"Child protection is everyone's responsibility."

The laws apply to information received from now, even if it relates to abuse that occurred in the past.

Continue reading @ ABC News.

Queensland Passes Law To Jail Priests For Not Reporting Confessions Of Child Sexual Abuse

ABC News ➠ Queensland priests are being compelled to break the seal of the confessional to protect children.

 
Priests in Queensland will now be compelled to break the seal of confession to report child sexual abuse or face three years in jail.

Key points:

  • The law was passed with the support of the Opposition
  • It enacts a recommendation of the child sexual abuse royal commission
  • Police Minister Mark Ryan says it will help protect vulnerable children

New laws passed through Queensland Parliament will force members of the clergy to report known or suspected cases of abuse to police.

The legislation means religious institutions and their members are no longer able to use the sanctity of confessional as a defence or excuse in child sex abuse matters.

Police Minister Mark Ryan said the laws would ensure better protection for vulnerable children.

"The requirement and quite frankly the moral obligation to report concerning behaviours towards children applies to everyone everyone in this community," he said.

"No one group or occupation is being singled out.

"Child protection is everyone's responsibility."

The laws apply to information received from now, even if it relates to abuse that occurred in the past.

Continue reading @ ABC News.

2 comments:

  1. "Many priests and bishops have publicly stated that they will go to jail before obeying these laws."

    Isn't this one of the most offensive statements ever uttered by Man?

    To actually imply they'd rather go to prison than save a child from rape?



    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Steve - I imagine when all is said and done more will be said than done. There will always be more of them in jail for raping children than for refusing to upend the secrecy of the confessional.
      If a priest gives his word in advance to every confessor that he will not violate the secrecy of the confessional then I guess if he really believes in it he will just have to take the hit. I think there are circumstances whereby a number of priests would not hesitate to go to the police if they discovered it outside the confessional but who would have serious difficulties if they broke the seal. They are conflicted out of religious conviction.
      There is a solution that can get around all this. The Church should state candidly that given the law of the land the priest will not hear confessions from people pertaining to child abuse. That way the priest and the confessional are both protected.
      I dislike the idea of exemption on the basis of religious opinion.

      Delete