Canon Is Changed on Confession

By Muriel Porter
Church Times
July 11, 2014

http://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2014/11-july/news/world/canon-is-changed-on-confession

CLERGY who hear confessions of serious offences, such as child sexual abuse, may not always be obliged to keep the confession secret after a legislative change made last week by the Australian General Synod. The priest is obliged to keep the matter confidential only if he or she is satisfied that the penitent has already reported the matter to police.

The change to the 1989 canon on confessions, however, comes into force in each diocese only if the diocesan synod adopts ...