Religious ministers in Victoria are now subjected to the same mandatory reporting laws as teachers, police, medical practitioners, nurses, school counsellors, and early childhood and youth justice workers. These laws require people who become aware of child abuse to report the abuse to the authorities.
These new laws override the secrecy of the confessional, which has caused conflict in Melbourne. Archbishop Peter Comensoli has publicly declared that he would rather go to gaol than break the seal of the confessional.
Child Protection Minister Luke Donnellan said “Victoria is a safer place because of these laws — there are now no excuses for people in religious ministry not to report physical and sexual abuse to authorities.”
Read the full story by Sumeyya Ilanbey: “Mandatory reporting laws for religious institutions come into effect”