AUSTRALIA
The Australian
Gemma Jones, James Campbell
From:Herald Sun
November 15, 2012
PRIESTS and clergy who refuse to break the seal of confessional before the Royal Commission face being jailed for six months.
Cardinal George Pell pledged this week confession was “inviolable” but the sweeping powers of a royal commission into the cover-up of child sexual abuse will compel priests to answer questions.
Constitutional lawyer George Williams said he expected clergy to face jail rather than divulge what they have been told inside a confessional.
“Royal commissions have the discretion to go behind the confessional seal if need be to compel evidence of what occurred in the confessional box,” he said.
“You would need to think very carefully (about using the power), you would probably find priests willing to go to jail.”
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