Canberra archbishop clashes with local government over seal of Confession

AUSTRALIA
Catholic Herald

June 8, 2018

Archbishop Prowse criticised new mandatory reporting laws which include the sacrament of Confession

An Australian archbishop has warned that a new local law could penalise priests who refuse to break the seal of Confession in cases relating to child abuse.

The legislative assembly of the Australian Capital Territory has expanded regulations on abuse reporting to include information divulged in the confessional.

In an article for the Canberra Times, Archbishop Christopher Prowse of Canberra and Goulburn, supported the effort to protect children but said that “breaking the sacred seal of Confession won’t prevent abuse”.

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