Cairns MP Rob Pyne lashes out at the Church in Parliament while introducing bill on reporting abuse

By Mark Bowling
Catholic Leader
March 21, 2017

http://catholicleader.com.au/news/cairns-mp-rob-pyne-lashes-out-at-the-church-in-parliament-while-introducing-bill-on-reporting-abuse

INDEPENDENT Member for Cairns Rob Pyne has attacked the Catholic Church as “a law unto itself” as he introduced a private member’s bill dealing with child abuse into Queensland Parliament.

The bill would legally require priests and other ministers of religion to report cases of abuse. Mr Pyne said if a member of the clergy had knowledge of a crime, they should be obliged to report it.

“Child abuse is even more damaging when the offender holds a position of trust. Abuse by ministers of religion is a life-scarring betrayal,” Mr Pyne tweeted on Tuesday March 20, the day before he tabled his bill.

Mr Pyne’s bill would make it mandatory for religious ministers to report abuse, including child sexual abuse, to the Department of Child Safety.