IRELAND
Irish Central
By
PATRICK COUNIHAN,
IrishCentral Staff Writer
Published Thursday, April 26, 2012
Irish priests have vowed to defy a new law forcing them to report details of sexual abused revealed in the confessional box.
Ireland’s Justice Minister Alan Shatter is to introduce new legislation which will force the clergy to reveal all details disclosed in confession.
But priests have vowed to defy the law despite the threat of a 10-year jail sentence after the introduction of the mandatory reporting legislation.
The 800 strong Association of Catholic Priests has even told the Irish Independent newspaper that its member will flout the Shatter law.
Spokesman Fr Sean McDonagh told the paper: “I certainly wouldn’t be willing to break the seal of confession for anyone — Alan Shatter particularly.”
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