Melbourne, Australia, Sep 12, 2019 / 11:37 am
A law passed in the Australian state of Victoria on Tuesday would require priests to violate the seal of confession if anything in the confession gave them reason to suspect occurrences of child abuse. The new law carries a sentence of up to three years in prison if a mandatory reporter does not report abuse to the authorities.
The law adds religious leaders to the existing list of mandatory reporters. Unlike in other countries with similar laws and policies, reports of child abuse made in a sacramental context are not exempt and must be reported.
Premier Daniel Andrews, who has led the state of Victoria since 2014, was quoted in the Australian newspaper The Age as saying he hoped the legislation sent a message to the Vatican regarding child abuse.
"The most important thing is to send a message that the law is to be taken seriously, if people don't obey the law, then the penalties are very significant," said Andrews.