AUSTRALIA
The Daily Telegraph
AAP
November 14, 2012
FEDERAL Attorney-General Nicola Roxon says the debate surrounding Catholic priests who admit to pedophilia in confession points to the failure of institutions and not religion.
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.
Ms Roxon described the situation as unacceptable.
“No one thinks it’s acceptable that if you knew about a crime of child abuse, that you would not protect the child, let alone report the matter to police,” Ms Roxon told ABC radio on Wednesday.
She said the federal government’s royal commission into child abuse would look beyond religion.
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