Priests Compelled to Break Seal of Confession on Child Sexual Abuse

A protester holds a sign in a demonstration with members of the group SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, outside of the offices of the San Francisco Archdiocese in San Francisco, Calif., on March 29, 2010. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Queensland has passed a new law that will compel priests to break the seal of confession to report cases of child sexual abuse or face criminal charges.

Labor MP Melissa McMahon told Queensland parliament on Sept. 8 that the religious confessional reform was one of the more contentious amendments contained in the bill.