“If you’re referring to the seal of the confessional, that’s non-negotiable,” he said.
The ABC’s Q&A is no stranger to controversy — but one particular question on last night’s show raised some eyebrows.
The show’s host Virginia Trioli asked what a priest should do when a parishioner walks into confession after being attacked by her husband.
According to Catholic Archbishop of Brisbane Mark Coleridge, the “sacred bond” between priest and parishioner appears to mean a priest has no obligation to report domestic violence.
Specifically, he insisted that the confidential “seal of the confessional” was “non-negotiable.”
The discussion around the church and domestic violence began innocently enough, with Archbishop Coleridge acknowledging that the church had a part to play in tackling domestic violence.
“This is a community responsibility including the church’s,” Coleridge – who is the Catholic Archbishop of Brisbane – said.
Coleridge also acknowledged that for too long, domestic violence remained hidden and dismissed by authorities.
“It was one of those things, like the abuse of the young, that went on behind closed doors… it was a cone of silence, ‘it happened in the family home, let it be’,” he said.
“Well, those days are gone.”
Related: The red flags of domestic violence, according to Rosie Batty.
That’s when acting Q&A host Virginia Trioli stepped in, asking him whether the Catholic church needed to take responsibility for turning a bling eye to family violence for so long.
Top Comments
My problem with mandatory reporting is won't it stop the creepers telling anyone? At least the person is under notice if one priet knows and he can use his influence to help or at least keep the barstar away from kids.
Mandatory reporting might just mean people stay underground abusing away without knowedge.
If it is a child or a rumour I think it should be mandatory though.
In most other institutions mandatory notification only applies to circumstances where there is suspicion that children may be in risk of harm. If we do not require other mandated notifiers to report domestic violence when there are no minors at risk, I'm curious as to why we should start by requesting this of the Catholic Church?
Shouldn't a better place to start be by overhauling the current notification requirements and training for everyone?
(Disclaimer - I do not identify with or belong to the Catholic Church - I'm just curious as to why Trioli and MM seem to be pushing for a standard that is not common practice for other organisations).