TASMANIA
SBS NEWS
June 20, 2018
Australia’s Catholic bishops have written to the prime minister opposing laws requiring priests to break the seal of confession to reveal child sexual abuse.
Catholic priests in Tasmania will report child sexual abuse to police but not if it has been revealed during confession.
Australia’s Catholic bishops are rejecting moves to force priests to break the seal of confession to reveal child abuse, with the South Australian church declaring its priests will defy new mandatory reporting laws in that state.
The Tasmanian government also plans to extend mandatory reporting to include information disclosed in a religious confession.
The Catholic Archbishop of Hobart Julian Porteous backs mandatory reporting but not when it means breaking church law that requires priests to uphold the seal of confession.
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