SYDNEY (AUSTRALIA)
Aleteia
April 5, 2018
By Kathleen N. Hattrup
But premier of New South Wales says “question of the seal of confession” will be addressed at national level.
The government of the Australian state of New South Wales is seeking to implement a range of laws targeting child abuse, in response to the final report of a broad investigation into abuse perpetrated by institutions, including members of the Church, which was released last year.
Among the proposals being considered are those which would apply to priests, including regulation or negation of the seal of confession.
The seal of confession is a set of strict rules keeping priests from revealing or commenting in any way on what is heard in the sacrament of confession. A priest who breaks the seal is excommunicated, and in the history of the Church, some priests have given their lives rather than break the seal.
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