The Catholic Church in Australia Is Facing Its Most Critical Test.

Herald Sun
December 29, 2012

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/opinion/catholic-church-to-face-the-music/story-e6frfhqo-1226545103668

Over the coming months it will, rightly, be subjected to extreme scrutiny as a royal commission into the institutionalised abuse of children examines why so many people have had their lives ruined by organisations that were trusted to protect and nurture them as youngsters.

The church will face searing questions about its past practices, including why, in some cases, it moved priests accused of abuse to other dioceses, meaning more children were victimised.

And why it did not properly co-operate with many police investigations into paedophile priests.

The church will need to be open and transparent about disgraceful failings of the past, which have devastated too many lives and shocked Australia.

The church also needs to be accountable for its future and consider whatever steps are necessary, no matter how radical, to ensure future generations are protected.

The church has established the Truth Justice and Healing Council to co-ordinate its response to the royal commission.

That the council's chief, Francis Sullivan, says he wants to be an independent voice for victims and not an apologist for the church, is a positive start.

It is also heartening that Mr Sullivan wants the church to consider backing laws to make it mandatory for priests to report to authorities cases where they suspect a child is at risk of sexual abuse.

Mandatory reporting by a range of professionals -- such as teachers, doctors and nurses -- provides a critical alert system so authorities become aware of, and can investigate, suspected cases of abuse.

Priests, many of whom deal with a range of children through their pastoral roles, could play an important role in this frontline warning system.

Many will also argue the church needs to go further and priests should report admissions of abuse they receive in the confession box.

This issue, raised by a Victorian parliamentary inquiry earlier this year, is contentious, as it would break the Seal of the Confessional, an absolute principle of confidentiality that means priests must not reveal what they have heard in a confessional -- even under threat of death.

Mr Sullivan has expressed concern the debate may be a "furphy", arguing paedophile priests are not going to attend a confessional because they do not believe they have done anything wrong.

His argument, on the basis of a generalisation, should not stifle debate on the issue.

It is an important debate for the church and the community, whatever the outcome.

Simply put, the rights of children must come first.