CATHOLIC priests in WA would face criminal charges if they refuse to break the seal of confession to report child sex abuse to police.

But it appears WA is headed towards a stand-off between Church and State, with Perth’s top Catholic saying this week the Church is not backing down and will continue to practise confessional secrecy.

This week, the McGowan Government unveiled its response to the Royal Commission’s 409 recommendations, which included a call to remove the seal of confession and force priests to report knowledge or suspicions of child sex abuse. The Government accepted that recommendation “in principle”.

“We are considering a number of legislative options,” Child Protection Minister Simone McGurk said.

“All clergy should be required to report child abuse and be subject to the same laws that we require of other professionals with regards to disclosure of abuse.

“Make no mistake, priests who have knowledge or suspicion of child sex abuse should report that to police and failure to do so must be treated as a crime.

“The community has a right to expect that our children are safe, especially within the institutions we trust to protect them.”

The WA Government would give “further consideration” to recommendations urging them to make failure by the clergy and others to report abuse a criminal offence and making priests “mandatory reporters” under law.

Perth Catholic Archbishop Timothy Costelloe said the Church could not support the call to break the seal of confession.

“While the Church cannot change its teachings on the sanctity of the confessional, including the absolute inviolability of the sacramental seal, here in WA, as throughout our country, the Church will continue to take every step available to ensure the safety and wellbeing — physical, psychological and spiritual — of every child and young person who takes part in the life of our communities,” he said.

Under canon law, a priest faces excommunication for violating the seal. Last year, Archbishop Costelloe said if the law was changed, no child abuser would enter into confession and any chance they could be “open to persuasion” would be lost.

Hetty Johnston, founder of child protection group Bravehearts, said the WA Government was on the right track but slammed the Catholic Church for its refusal to budge in the best interests of children.

“What planet are they from? They have caused so much harm over such a long period and they still don’t get it,” she said. “Honestly, if the Catholic Church is still in that mind then we’ve got to start to ask ourselves why would we trust the Catholic Church or any of its subsidiaries with our children?”

She said priests should face jail if they refuse to break the seal of confession.

From October, South Australia will become the first State to axe the confessional exemption, with priests facing a $10,000 fine if they don’t disclose abuse allegations. The ACT is also introducing similar laws.

On Friday, Pope Francis officially accepted the resignation of Melbourne Archbishop Denis Hart, who said he’d rather risk going to jail than breaking the seal of confession.