Seal of Confession Defended by Brady, UTV, August 29, 2011

Seal of Confession Defended by Brady

UTV
August 29, 2011

http://www.u.tv/News/Seal-of-confession-defended-by-Brady/0a659284-a245-4946-a1a0-eeb7345af7a9

Cardinal Sean Brady has said that a priest's "seal of confession" is a "sacred and treasured" rite, as the Irish Government plans to roll out new child protection legislation, which will not be stopped by canon law.

The Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland was addressing a congregation in County Mayo on Sunday in the wake of the Cloyne report, which found that priests had failed to report abuse allegations against young people to the police.

"The seal of confession is so fundamental to the very nature of the Sacrament that any proposal that undermines that inviolability is a challenge to the right of every Catholic to freedom of religion and conscience," the head of the Roman Catholic Church in Ireland said.

"Freedom to participate in worship and to enjoy the long established rites of the Church is so fundamental that any intrusion upon it is a challenge to very basis of a free society."

The Irish Government announced new child protection measures after the Cloyne report was published last month.

As a result of new laws due to be rolled out in the autumn, anyone could face up to five years in jail if they do not reveal information about abuse of a child.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Justice Minister Alan Shatter have already warned that priests and doctors would no longer be able to hide behind the sanctity of confession or doctor/patient confidentiality, when it came to reporting sexual abuse.

"In situations where these appalling activities took place, let them be reported and let the law of the land apply," Mr Kenny said last month.

The Cloyne inquiry, headed by Judge Yvonne Murphy, investigated the handling of abuse allegations in the Co Cork diocese.

Last month, Cardinal Brady apologised and expressed his "shame and sorrow" following the publication of the damning report.