Priests told ‘stop hiding sex abuse’

PRIESTS should not use the ‘sanctity of the confessional’ to keep secret sexual attacks on children by colleagues, the inquiry into child abuse recommended yesterday.

The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse says they could be required by law to report offences to church and civil authorities.

It said children as young as pre-schoolers should be taught how to counter adult predators.

And the government should establish a National Office for Child Safety to prevent abuse.

“Laws concerning mandatory reporting to child protection authorities should not exempt persons in religious ministry from being required to report knowledge or suspicions formed, in whole or in part, on the basis of information disclosed in or in connection with a religious confession,” said one of the inquiry’s 189 recommendations.

The measure is part of a strong submission to make reporting of child abuse to authorities mandatory.

Archbishop Denis Hart said the recommendations will have “significant impact” on the way the Catholic Church operates.

“This is a shameful past, in which a prevailing culture of secrecy and selfprotection led to unnecessary suffering for many victims and their families,” Archbishop Hart said.

“I reiterate my unconditional apology for this suffering and a commitment to ensuring justice for those affected.”

The government has not responded but Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull thanked the commission for tough, harrowing work.

“But above all I want to thank and honour the courage of the survivors and their families who have told, often for the first time, the dreadful stories of abuse they’ve received from people who actually owed them love and protection,” he said.

The commission said institutions should keep records to document any identified incidents of grooming, inappropriate behaviour, including breaches of institutional codes of conduct, or child sexual abuse.

“Records created by institutions should be clear, objective and thorough.”

It said a National Office for Child Safety should report to parliament and develop and lead the co-ordination of the proposed National Framework for Child Safety.

The inquiry wants mandatory prevention education for parents delivered by daycare, preschool, school, sport and recreational settings and institutional and community groups.

“The education should aim to increase knowledge of child sexual abuse and its impacts, and build skills to help reduce the risks of child sexual abuse,” said the report.

There should be a consistent national curriculum for online safety education for children delivered by schools.