Priests who do not inform the police after learning about child abuse in confession should face criminal charges, an Australian inquiry has said.
The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse recommended that all states and territories in the country introduce legislation to punish priests for not breaking the seal of the confessional.
“The right to practise one’s religious beliefs must accommodate civil society’s obligation to provide for the safety of all and, in particular, children’s safety from sexual abuse,” the commission wrote.
“Institutions directed to caring for and providing services for children, including religious institutions, must provide an environment where children are safe from sexual abuse. Reporting information relevant to child sexual abuse to the police is critical to ensuring the safety of children.”
The recommendation will be strongly resisted by the Church, which has always guarded the absolute confidentiality of confession.
Under canon law, priests may never break the seal of the confessional, even under threat of death. Any priest who breaks the seal faces automatic excommunication.
Archbishop Denis Hart of Melbourne said in a statement: “Confession in the Catholic Church is a spiritual encounter with God through the priest. It is a fundamental part of the freedom of religion, and it is recognised in the law of Australia and many other countries. It must remain so here in Australia. Outside of this all offences against children must be reported to the authorities, and we are absolutely committed to doing so.”
Militants massacred dozens of Christians, says bishop
A bishop has reported that 50 people have been killed in an outbreak of violence in the Central African Republic.
Spanish-born Bishop Juan-José Aguirre Muñoz of Bangassou detailed the horrors in emails to his brother that were seen by the US Catholic News Service. The massacre reportedly occurred at the Gambo mission, about 45 miles from Bangassou.
“Several men and children have been beheaded. Everything is restless here,” the bishop wrote. Bishop Aguirre said that several days earlier the anti-Balaka militia arrived at the mission and expelled the Seleka rebels. But UN peacekeepers came to the mission and “expelled the anti-Balaka,” he said. “The Seleka returned and cut about a dozen throats”.
“What has happened here in Gambo is very serious and will impact Bangassou,” he added.
Several minutes later, Bishop Aguirre wrote: “There are 50 dead in Gambo. The mission has been ransacked.”
The Spanish bishop, who has welcomed 2,000 Muslims at the cathedral in Bangassou to defend them from attacks by anti-Balaka militants, asked his brother to pray for the country.
Pope laments ‘perfect’ Catholics
God did not choose perfect people to form his Church but sinners who experienced forgiveness, Pope Francis
has said.
Luke’s account of Jesus forgiving a sinful woman shows how Jesus contradicted the Pharisees, the Pope said at his general audience. “There were some scribes … who believed they were perfect. I think about so many Catholics who think they are perfect.”
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