Australian Royal Commission Archives

Report abuse learned in confession or go to jail, says Australian state

Sep 8, 2020

A new law requires priests in the state of Queensland to break the seal of confession to report child sex abuse to police or face three years in jail.

By Catholic News Service

Vatican tells Australian Church that seal of confession not up for debate

Sep 5, 2020

Although reaffirming the principle that the seal of confession can never be violated, the Vatican has told Church leaders in Australia that victims of sexual abuse should be encouraged to report abuse to the proper authorities.

By Charles Collins

Australia’s bishops seeking ‘whole-of-Church’ approach for child protection

May 28, 2020

Plans are moving forward for a new national system in Australia for handling clergy abuse complaints.

By Christopher White

Inquiry: Pell knew of abuse by Australian pedophile priest

May 7, 2020

Australian Cardinal George Pell knew a priest had been moved decades ago because he had sexually abused children, and should have removed an unstable priest in another parish who was also a suspected pedophile, a government inquiry concluded.

By Rod McGuirk

Cardinal Pell’s appeal of abuse conviction to be heard March 11-12

Feb 16, 2020

Cardinal George Pell will have his last chance to have his conviction for sexually abusing two 13-year old choirboys overturned when his lawyers plead his case to the High Court of Australia March 11-12.

By Michael Sainsbury

Australian archbishop rejects breaking seal of confession for abusers

Jan 17, 2020

The president of the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference is the latest of the country’s senior clerics to push back against legislation to lift the seal of confession for child sexual abuse.

By Michael Sainsbury

Committee to recommend Australian bishops give laity certain controls

Jan 16, 2020

A six-person committee charged with reviewing church governance and management is expected to present Australia’s bishops with a plan to overhaul the management of the Church in the country.

By Michael Sainsbury

New admission by diocese could cost Australian Church millions in claims

Sep 13, 2019

The Australian Catholic Church could face tens of millions of dollars in compensation claims after the Diocese of Ballarat in Victoria state admitted, for the first time, it knew of the behavior of a pedophile priest yet continued to move him around from parish to parish.

By Michael Sainsbury