AUSTRALIA
My Daily News
A CATHOLIC bishop says priests who hear the confessions of paedophiles have the option of urging the “criminals to turn themselves in” or refusing them forgiveness, but should not break the “sacred” Seal of Confession.
The Most Reverend Anthony Fisher, who is the Bishop of Parramatta, wrote to members of the diocese this week after Prime Minister Julia Gillard called for a royal commission into child abuse.
Child abuse across a range of institutions will be the subject of the royal commission, not just the Catholic Church.
There have been calls for priests who hear the confessions of paedophiles to appear before the royal commission.
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