AUSTRALIA
Fraser Coast Chronicle
MARYBOROUGH priest Paul Kelly says he would break the sacred “seal of silence” and report child sex abusers who confessed to him, despite the threat of excommunication from the Catholic Church for doing so.
Father Kelly’s comments come after the Federal Government announced a royal commission into child sex abuse cases, a move which has unearthed concerns about the church directive that priests keep secret all information given in confession.
For a priest to break this code is considered a mortal sin and would see them excommunicated from the Catholic Church.
But Father Kelly, who has also campaigned against the gay panic defence, said he agreed with suggestions the “seal of silence” privilege could be seen to protect child sex offenders.
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