Melbourne councillor Nicolas Frances Gilley proposes outing priests who refuse to dob alleged child abusers in
Victoria recently passed laws that carry jail terms for priests and other religious workers who fail to report cases of child abuse. And this is how City of Melbourne might deal with those who don’t comply.
VIC News
Don't miss out on the headlines from VIC News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The City of Melbourne would out churches that don’t comply with mandatory reporting of child abuse laws under a plan to be considered by councillors.
The council would also consider taking legal action to deal with priests who openly refuse to dob in people who admit to child abuse during confession.
While the proposed action is not directed specifically at the Catholic Church, it is in response to comments by Melbourne Catholic Archbishop Peter Comensoli, who indicated he would rather risk jail than break the confessional seal.
Putting the motion at next Tuesday’s council meeting is transport portfolio chairman Nicolas Frances Gilley, a former boss of the Anglican Brotherhood of St Laurence.
Cr Frances Gilley said he was concerned by Archbishop Comensoli’s position to “defy the laws”.
“As a council with responsibility to ensure local citizen safety, and particularly that of our children, it is appropriate to advise children, and those caring for them, of places where they may not be safe,” his motion said.
“As such we are asking officers to write to all churches and places of worship requesting assurances that all staff and associates will abide by the law of mandatory reporting.”
If accepted by councillors, the council will out churches and other places of worship which don’t give assurances they will follow the law.
“The council (will) take appropriate action that clearly advises people of the risks of using such institutions until such time as we can get legal advice on possible further action
accessible to City of Melbourne,” the motion said.
The motion was seconded by Greens councillor Rohan Leppert, who chairs the arts, culture and heritage portfolio.
Comment has been sought from Archbishop Comensoli.
In August, the Archbishop said most confessions were made anonymously and admissions of abuse were “deeply rare”.
MORE NEWS
PRIESTS SET TO DEFY NEW LAWS ON REPORTING ABUSE
ABUSE VICTIM BLASTS CHURCH COMPO ‘DEMANDS’
He said the Archdiocese of Melbourne had “very extensive” policies regarding child protection with ongoing training and audits.
“So all of those sorts of things, I think, are much more about the protection of children and are better at it on a practical level than this one particular thing,” he told ABC Radio.
“Personally, I’ll keep the (confessional) seal.”