Melbourne archbishop says he'd rather go to jail than report child abuse heard in confession

[trotsky]

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/aug/15/melbourne-archbishop-says-hed-rather-go-to-jail-than-report-child-abuse-heard-in-confession

The archbishop of the archdiocese of Melbourne, Denis Hart, said he would risk going to jail rather than report allegations of child sexual abuse raised during confession, and that the sacredness of communication with God during confession should be above the law.

He was responding to a report from the child sex abuse royal commission calling for reforms that, if adopted by governments, would see failure to report child sex abuse in institutions become a criminal offence, extending to information given in religious confessions.

Speaking to ABC radio 774 in Melbourne, Hart said he stood by comments he made in 2011 that priests would rather be jailed than violate the sacramental seal.

...The CEO of the Australian Catholic Church’s Truth Justice and Healing Council, Francis Sullivan, ... said should Australia change the law, priests would be expected to obey the law, like everybody else, or suffer the consequences. “If they do not this will be a personal, conscience decision on the part of the priest that will have to be dealt with by the authorities in accordance with the new law as best they can,” he said.

Religious privilege.

[samnsara]

1. well then he should hand out a trillion hail Mary's for penance

[Raster]

2. Tell me, Archie Bishop, what do you think Gawd would want you to do...

...allow innocent children to continue to be abused?

"...the sacredness of communication with God during confession should be above the law."

[Act_of_Reparation]

3. One-size-fits all, bumper-sticker morality needlessly endangers society yet again.

This really shouldn't be an issue. They don't need blanket confidentiality, and the public doesn't need blanket transparency. Priests could very easily follow the same rules doctors do. If someone is a danger to themselves or others, report them. If they are not, then confidentiality is wholly appropriate.

But no. The RCC's inflexible dogma won't allow for nuance. Or reason. Or empathy.

[Ferrets are Cool]

4. So? He is willing to allow child sex abuse to continue

after hearing about it because of some "mythical" god that he chooses to bow down to.
IF, and I mean IF I am reading this correctly, FUCK YOU archbishop. If it is found in a court of law that you have hidden sex offenders, you should be put into the same jail cell as they are.

[Voltaire2]

5. Fine. Off to jail then.

Another martyr for jeebus.

[trotsky]

6. One less religious extremist for the rest of us to deal with. n/t

[MineralMan]

7. OK, then, Archbishop Hart. Please turn around so the officer

can handcuff you, for your safety.

[Cartoonist]

8. Religion and the law

Here's my simple solution regarding the writing of laws based on religion or the use of religion to break laws.

You must prove your god exists.

Denis Hart should have to make God take the stand if he is going to use God as his defense.

[Mariana]

9. Here is a man who truly lives his faith. nt.

[AtheistCrusader]

10. Conversations with his imaginary friend should not be above the law. Next Question.

[edhopper]

11. Is this Good News

because he is standing up for his beliefs?

I can't keep it straight.

[trotsky]

12. If only someone could tell us! n/t

[MineralMan]

13. He has "faith" that he's right, no doubt.

We mustn't question faith, I'm told.

[Iggo]

14. He loves mythical beings more than real people.

He should be living in a cave.