Queensland priests no longer protected by the seal of confession

Priests in Queensland will have to report knowledge of child sexual abuse or face jail and will no longer be protected by the seal of confession.

Queensland Police Minister Mark Ryan backed the new laws. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Priests in Queensland will no longer be protected by the seal of confession and must report child sexual abuse or face three years in jail.

It’s all because of new state laws which will mean religious institutions and their members are no longer able to use the sanctity of confessional as a defence or excuse in child sex abuse matters.

The state’s teachers, doctors, nurses, childcare workers and school principals already have to report crimes against children to authorities.

Now priests are in the same boat, facing three years’ imprisonment if they fail to report confessions from abusers – even if the information they obtained is from a confessional.

Queensland Police Minister Mark Ryan said the laws would ensure better protection for vulnerable children.

“The requirement and quite frankly the moral obligation to report concerning behaviours towards children applies to everyone in this community,” he told parliament. “No one group or occupation is being singled out.”

The historic laws have passed Queensland parliament.

The laws won the backing of both major parties, but not everyone is happy.

A One Nation politician, Stephen Andrew, has claimed the laws will set a “dangerous precedent” that will eventually see journalists compelled to give up their sources and lawyers required to dob in their clients.

“For example, if priests must break the confessional seal, surely lawyers must report evidence indicating their client has abused a child,” he told the parliament. “If you accept the logic of the argument on this one abhorrent crime, you must accept it for all others.

“The same goes for other professions that may be privy to confidential information and knowledge such as doctors, lawyers, psychologists and journalists.”

However, Child Safety Minister Di Farmer said the laws were needed. She used the example of Catholic priest Michael McArdle who in 2003 pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting generations of children.

In a 2004 affidavit, McArdle said he confessed 1500 times to 30 different priests over a 25-year period.

“Paedophiles should have nowhere to hide and that includes the confessional,” said Ms Farmer.