Catholic clerics should face criminal charges if they do not report sexual abuse disclosed to them during confession, an Australian inquiry has recommended.
It is among 85 proposals to emerge from a landmark inquiry into institutional abuse in the nation.
The inquiry had heard harrowing tales of abuse, which were never passed on to the relevant authorities.
The Church has indicated it will oppose altering the rules around confession.
The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, which began in 2013, was contacted by thousands of victims from both religious and non-religious organisations.
On Monday, it proposed wide-ranging changes to Australia’s criminal justice system. The recommendations will now be put to legislators.
Source: BBC
