AUSTRALIA
Big Pond News
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says all Australians should report knowledge of child abuse, even what priests are told in confession.
This follows the call from senior opposition frontbencher Christopher Pyne that priests have a responsibility to report crimes to police even if the details are given to them during confession.
Australia’s most senior Catholic, Cardinal George Pell, on Tuesday told reporters ‘the seal of confession is inviolable’ even if a priest confesses to child sex abuse.
Mr Abbott says everyone has to obey the law.
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