AUSTRALIA
Australian Associated Press
June 13, 2018
By Megan Neil
The Catholic Church maintains the seal of confession cannot be broken even to reveal child sexual abuse, despite Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull declaring children’s safety must take priority.
Mr Turnbull has promised the federal government will put child safety first as he prepares an October 22 national apology to child sexual abuse survivors for the “shocking” crimes committed against them.
The government will set up a national office of child safety as it adopts the bulk of the recommendations of the five-year child abuse royal commission.
While Canberra has not rejected any recommendations, the controversial issue of extending mandatory reporting laws to include people in religious ministry remains in the hands of the states and territories.
Mr Turnbull had a clear message for the Catholic Church when it came to the seal of the confession: “The safety of children should always be put first.”
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