2017-08-15
Senior members of the Catholic Church signalling they would oppose priests being forced to reveal cases of child sexual abuse admitted during confession shows an astounding disregard for child safety and for the rights of survivors of abuse.
“How disgusting to prioritise a ‘fundamental part of freedom of religion’ over ensuring the safety of children”, Australian Greens Senator Rachel Siewert today.
“In the same week that the Catholic Church announced it would oppose marriage equality because of false links to how it will affect children at school, they want to allow priests to continue to keep secret confessions in which someone admits to having sexually abused a child. This clearly demonstrates the priorities of the Catholic Church in Australia.
“I urge the Catholic Church to take a long hard look at all of the recommendations in the Criminal Justice Report and concede that, in order to address years of systematic sexual abuse and its covering up, that those recommendations must be heeded.
“The Catholic Church must work with state and federal Governments rather than resist change”.