But the sexual abuse crisis that has embroiled the Catholic Church around the world has seen this right challenged more frequently. In Australia, an inquiry into child abuse recommended that the country introduce a law forcing religious leaders to report child abuse, including priests told of it during confession. Church leaders in both the United States and Australia have opposed such laws and the document backed them up unequivocally. Victims advocates said the lifting of the seal of confession, even partially, was drastic but necessary under the circumstances. But it’s the leaders of the Catholic church, not civil society, that have gotten us to this point,” said Anne Barrett Doyle, co-director of the U.S.-based abuse tracking group BishopAccountability.org.

Source: National Post July 01, 2019 11:48 UTC