NATION No more cover-ups

Catholics pledge ‘never again’ but refuse to breach confession

AUSTRALIA’S Catholic leaders have vowed to end the cover-up of child sexual abuse but refuse to break the seal of confession, even if it means priests facing criminal charges.

The leaders have vowed the Catholic Church’s shameful history of priests and others in its ranks sexually abusing children will never be repeated, pledging accountability and a plan of action in response to a royal commission’s call for reforms.

It will be up to Pope Francis to act on many of the royal commission’s recommendations and their implications for centuries-old canon law.

But Australian bishops will not yield to the royal commission’s call to break the seal of confession to reveal child sexual abuse, even if priests face the prospect of criminal charges under extended mandatory reporting laws. The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference and the peak body for religious orders, Catholic Religious Australia, said it was the one recommendation they could not accept.

“This is because it is contrary to our faith and inimical to religious liberty,” ACBC president Archbishop Mark Coleridge and CRA president Sister Monica Cavanagh said.

“We are committed to the safeguarding of children and vulnerable people while maintaining the seal. We do not see safeguarding and the seal as mutually exclusive.”

Archbishop Coleridge said too many priests, brothers, sisters and lay people failed to protect children and many bishops failed to listen, believe and act.

“The bishops and leaders of religious orders pledge today: Never again,” he said.

“There will be no cover-up. There will be no transferring of people accused of abuse. There will be no placing the reputation of the church above the safety of children.”

The ACBC has started discussions with the Holy See about the commission’s recommendations.