The Wire

The Anglican Church has stepped away from the ‘confessional seal’ to allow individual dioceses to report serious crimes if heard during confessions. This historic change comes in the wake of the royal commission into child sexual abuse. Church leaders say they have united to ensure the church does not become a cover for potential predators. The Atheist Foundation of Australia says it welcomes the move but is not happy that it is an ‘opt-in’ arrangement, saying mandatory reporting of sexual abuse should apply to churches as it does  to counsellors and other agencies.