The 189 recommendations handed down by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse have sparked a heated debate within the Griffith community.
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If the recommendations were to be taken on board by the Catholic Church, it would see the ‘seal’ of the religious confessional tossed aside, meaning priests would be forced to report any child sexual abuse revealed to them, currently not required by law.
Ex-education minister Adrian Piccoli has come out swinging against the response of senior members of the Catholic Church, and criticised the “catholic mumbo-jumbo” talk surrounding the issue.
As a Catholic himself, his outrage was triggered when he heard Archbishop Hart of the Archdioceses of Melbourne say he does not support any changes to confession which would force a priest to report information to authorities.
“I think the approach taken by the senior clergy around this is wrong. Nothing, absolutely nothing takes precedence over the protection of children, including the Catholic Church,” Mr Piccoli said.
“Forget the God stuff, it’s a crime.”
Griffith priest for the Sacred Heart Parish Father Grace has responded to the Royal Commission’s recommendations, and commended Mr Piccoli for his candid stance.
“May I commend Mr Piccoli’s forthrightness and assure the people of Griffith that I stand united with him to end this mortally sinful and criminal behaviour,” Fr Grace said.
Fr Grace has previously stated his stance on the sacred nature of the sacrament of confession, and said he would wait for a formal response to the findings and recommendations from the Vatican, forthcoming early in the New Year.
As a parent of two children, this is very frightening to think that if a priest were to get information about child abuse through the confession that he wouldn’t report it to the police.
- Ex-Education minister Adrian Piccoli.
The Vatican stated the final report “is the result of the Commission’s thorough efforts over the past several years, and deserves to be studied seriously,” Pope Francis said.
“The Holy See remains committed to being close to the Catholic Church in Australia - lay faithful, religious, and clergy alike - as they listen to and accompany victims and survivors in an effort to bring about healing and justice.”
Griffith Linking Communities Network CEO Yvonne Wilson, after working extensively with child abuse cases, has previously called for the end of the seal of confession.
The recommendations made by the commission are only strong suggestions, meaning the Vatican may not move to end the silence of priests who have heard the confession of a child-abuser.
When asked what he would do if placed in the situation of hearing a confession of a child abuser, Fr Grace said he will follow the Vatican’s decision loyally, whatever that decision may be.
“I will obediently adhere to their directives,” Fr Grace said.
“When it came to leading children astray, Jesus said, “it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone round the neck than to be the downfall of a single one of these little ones. (Lk. 17:2)”
Mr Piccoli is “blown away” by the response from the Catholic Church ministers.
“As a parent of two children, this is very frightening to think that if a priest were to get information about child abuse through the confession that he wouldn’t report it to the police,” Mr Piccoli said.
“Child abuse should not be treated as a sin to be forgiven but rather as a crime that should be punished and stopped.”
“No religion gets to choose which Australian laws they obey – not canon (Catholic) law, not Sharia law, not any religion.”
“Have the last 50 years not taught them anything? Has the royal commission not taught them anything?” Mr Piccoli said.
Fr Grace maintains the Church in Australia has been trying to respond to these concerns for the past two decades.
“We’ve come a long way from where we were when most of these terrible crimes occurred in the 1960s, 70s and 80s, but there is always more to be done to ensure the safety and well-being of the young and vulnerable,” Fr Grace said.
“May I humbly ask all people of faith to continue to pray for justice and healing of survivors; for wisdom and compassion for leaders and carers; for repentance by perpetrators; for grace for those tempted to lose faith or hope; for safety for all young people; and for consolation for all those affected. We will, I pray, be a humbler, purer, more compassionate Church as a result of the Commission’s work and the scrutiny we have received.”
