AUSTRALIA
The Manly Daily
15 Nov 12 @ 04:47pm by Charis Chang
OPPOSITION Leader Tony Abbott says the sanctity of the confessional should not exempt priests from reporting child abuse but his local bishop does not agree.
Mr Abbott, a devout Catholic who once studied to be a priest, said on Wednesday that everyone should be obliged to obey the law and report knowledge of child abuse. This applied to priests as well.
“If they become aware of sexual offences against children, those legal requirements must be adhered to,” he told reporters in Brisbane.
“The law is no respecter of persons, everyone has to obey the law, regardless of what job they are doing, what position they hold.”
Asked if that applied to priests, Mr Abbott replied: “Indeed.”
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