Sydney Atheists

Should Priests be above the law?

From the Sydney Morning Herald comes this article: 

Confession must be subject to mandatory reporting

Date

Bryan Keon-Cohen, Joseph Poznanski

The absolute confidentiality of the Catholic Church's 
confessional puts vulnerable children at risk.

Comment

Illustration: Andrew Dyson.

While the Catholic Church appears willing to accept the Victorian parliamentary committee's recommendations in its report Betrayal of Trust, the church hierarchy rejects the application of a mandatory reporting regime to the sacrament of Penance, that is, the Confessional.

The report also declined to extend mandatory reporting to compel priests, in appropriate circumstances, to break the Seal of the Confessional. COIN (Commission of Inquiry Now) disagrees.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/comment/confession-must-be-subject-to-mandatory-reporting-20140325-35gck.html#ixzz2x73xBoIm