The Project's Lisa Wilkinson and Waleed Aly Clash over Proposal to Fine Priests $10,000 for Failing to Report Admissions of Child Sexual Abuse Made during Confession

By Alex Michael
Daily Mail Australia
July 11, 2018

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-5942315/Lisa-Wilkinson-Waleed-Aly-tense-disagreement-Catholic-Church-child-abuse-laws.html

Lisa Wilkinson and Waleed Aly have had a tense disagreement over the Royal Commission's proposal to criminalise Catholic Church priests who fail to break the confessional seal to report admissions of child abuse.

The debate was sparked after the Victorian Government failed to introduce the recommendation on Wednesday, insisting it needed 'further consideration.'

Lisa, 58, argued the changes were necessary to provide justice for victims of abuse, while Waleed, 39, insisted the proposal presents a catch-22 for priests.

The heated discussion followed the Victorian Government's response to the Royal Commision's 293 recommendations.

The Government accepted 128 recommendations in full, but will give further consideration to a proposal to fine priests who don't report child abuse admissions heard during confessional.

Lisa argued: 'For me it's a no-brainer, there are children, many many generations of children who have suffered, for the Government to not want to make these changes as a matter of urgency just makes no sense to me.'

Argument: Lisa, 58, argued the changes were necessary to provide absolution for victims of abuse, while Waleed, 39, insisted the proposal presents a catch-22 for priests

Waleed strongly disagreed, and criticised the South Australian Government's decision to accept the proposal and assign a $10,000 fine to priests who break the new law.

'Help me out here, because here's the thing I don't understand: How would introducing a law like this actually stop any of this happening?' he asked.

Lisa replied: 'It wouldn't. It would send a message throughout the entire church that "this much and no more" - that we've protected this behaviour for too long, and no one is above the law.'

How? 'Help me out here, because here's the thing I don't understand: how would introducing a law like this actually stop any of this happening?' Waleed asked Lisa

Waleed snapped back: 'Ok fine, but consider yourself in the position of a priest who's hearing that.

'I'm not a Catholic, I have no interest in defending the confession, but breaking the seal of confession for priests is an ex-communicable offence - it's eternal damnation.

'So now you're giving them a choice between eternal damnation, or a $10,000 fine?

'I just can't see any of them making the decision to avoid a $10,000 fine for the sake of that?'

Message: Lisa replied: It would send a message throughout the entire church that 'this much and no more,' that we've protected this behaviour for too long, and no one is above the law'

Lisa replied: 'But it removed the perpetrators' chance of absolution!'

'But it doesn't,' Waleed claimed, 'because if a priest cares enough to be a priest, they'll maintain that [confessional] seal - the church have already said they're going to maintain the seal.'

Lisa argued the Government could not let the current system continue, 'because the church has been a rule unto itself, and we've had generation after generation of damaged humans.

'And if children - and in particular altar boys - are seen as prey for priests, then we have to step in in a major way.'

Tough choice! But Waleed argued the proposal effectively gives priests 'a choice between eternal damnation [by breaking the seal] or a $10,000 fine?'

Lisa and Waleed still couldn't see eye-to-eye, so co-panellist Tommy Little stepped in to clarify Waleed's argument.

'You think the new law is essentially asking priests to hand their faith away to save $10,000?'

'Yes, and I get the appeal of legislating for that, but I can't imagine the scenario in my head where it works,' Waleed replied.

Stepped in: Lisa and Waleed still couldn't see eye-to-eye, so co-panellist Tommy Little stepped in to clarify Waleed's argument