Australian Catholic Bishops Conference President Archbishop Denis Hart has this week said that protections for the seal of confession should be protected. Photo: Supplied.
Australian Catholic Bishops Conference President and Melbourne Archbishop Denis Hart has this week said that protections for the seal of confession should be protected.
Archbishop Hart was responding to a report from the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Abuse released this week, which said there should be no excuse, protection or privilege for priests who fail to alert police because the information was received in confession.
“We are satisfied that confession is a forum where Catholic children have disclosed their sexual abuse and where clergy have disclosed their abusive behaviour in order to deal with their own guilt,” the report said.
In his statement issued Monday 14 August, Archbishop Hart said confession in the Catholic Church is a spiritual encounter with God through the priest.
“It is a fundamental part of the freedom of religion, and it is recognised in the law of Australia and many other countries.
“It must remain so here in Australia.
“Outside of this all offences against children must be reported to the authorities, and we are absolutely committed to doing so,” Archbishop Hart said.