Priests ‘should Report Confessed Abuse"

By Patrick Caruana
Herald Sun
February 28, 2013

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/church-harassed-abuse-victims-inquiry/story-e6frf7kf-1226587608755

CATHOLIC priests who hear confessions about the sexual abuse of children should be obliged to report the crimes to police, a Victorian inquiry has heard.

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Priests aren't subject to mandatory reporting requirements if they suspect child abuse and are obliged by the church to keep secret anything divulged to them during confessions.

Former Victorian MP and lawyer Dianne Haddin says laws covering the church's disclosure obligations need to be toughened.

The protection of children must be paramount, Ms Haddin told a parliamentary inquiry into sexual abuse within religious organisations in Victoria.

"We can no longer accept that a priest can abuse a child and continue to abuse a child and be protected by the church and canon law," she told the inquiry in Ballarat on Thursday.

Ms Haddin said all ministers of religion should be subject to the same mandatory reporting requirements as teachers and nurses.

The inquiry on Thursday also heard personal accounts from a number of victims of sexual abuse.

Stephen Woods, who was bashed and molested by two Christian brothers in the 1970s, said private detectives hired by the church had called victims asking them if they were continuing with their complaints.

Mr Woods told the inquiry he had received such a call himself.

He said he threatened the caller before telling police.

"This is what happens when you go against an organisation such as the church - they harass you," Mr Woods said.

Fellow victim Keith Whelan said he felt coerced into accepting a settlement under the church's Towards Healing program.

"(The process) was more about the church being seen to be doing something than about healing for me," he said.

Mr Whelan said he would have ongoing medical costs which would exceed the compensation paid to him.

The inquiry will resume in Melbourne on Friday.