« Software Helps Track Child Pornographers | Main | Social services department hoping to provide more details in abuse cases »
April 07, 2005
Move to force Church to report abuse
April 7, 2005 [AAP}
South Australia - LEGISLATION requiring priests, church workers and volunteers to report knowledge of child abuse has passed the Upper House of the South Australian Parliament.
However, the bill introduced by independent MP Nick Xenophon, will not force priests to breach the confidentiality of the confessional after an amendment from the Liberal Opposition.
The bill will now go before the Lower House for debate. Mr Xenophon said today he was disappointed with the exemption for the confessional.
"But the alternative was for the bill to fail in the Upper House and the measure is still a dramatic improvement to require notification of child abuse," he said.
Posted by Nancy at April 7, 2005 07:44 PM