Catholic World News News Feature

Australian prelate concerned by attack on confessional seal September 18, 2003

An Australian bishop is asking for a personal meeting with a legislator who suggested a new law threatening the seal of confession.

Archbishop Philip Wilson of Adelaide said he wants to speak with Nick Xenophon, a state legislator who proposed legislation that would require priests to inform civil authorities about child abuse, even if they learned about the offense through a penitent's confession.

Archbishop Wilson said that he hoped to explain the Church policy to Xenophon. "We don't want to step away from carrying out our responsibilities for the protection of children," he said; "but at the same time in the Catholic Church there is an absolute ban on priests saying anything that they have heard in confession."

The archbishop indicated that he was confident priests would continue to observe that ban, regardless of any new legislation. "Every priest knows that he can say nothing, even in the face of threat or punishment or jail," he said.

Archbishop Wilson observed that anyone who confessed a sin involving child abuse, or revealed any knowledge of such offenses, would be vigorously encourage to report the offense to law-enforcement officials.