Background to PRIVATE CONFESSION ISSUE  
at 12^th General Synod of the Anglican Church of Australia

The 12th General Synod of the Anglican Church of Australia, to be held at the Carlton Crest Hotel, Brisbane from July 21-27, 2001, will discuss resolutions relating to private confessions and sexual abuse.  

Four resolutions, which emerged from the work of the Clergy Discipline Working Group last year, will be discussed at the General Synod.

The Working Group, chaired by Bishop of Wangaratta David Farrer, was asked to consider matters related to the Clergy Discipline (Disclosure of Confessions) canon (law) promoted at the 1998 General Synod.

The 1998 canon provided for a synod of a diocese to "permit or require ordained ministers to reveal crimes or offences or sins which involve the sexual abuse of a minor" confessed by a priest or church worker to the diocesan bishop or a tribunal. The canon also required dioceses to comply with their current confessional laws.

The debate at the 1998 General Synod emphasised the obligation of the church to protect children and the importance of absolute confidentiality of a confession.

The Working Group concluded that there was potential for misunderstanding as to the principles applicable to private confession and the scope of confessional laws.

The first resolution calls for a statement of principles of confession to be adopted, including the provision that, in the case of a confession of child abuse by a church worker or clergy person, a priest cannot responsibly pronounce absolution until the penitent person had reported the conduct to the authorities and the diocesan bishop.

The second resolution seeks the House of Bishops to identify teaching resources and develop pastoral guidelines for the hearing of private confessions.

The third resolution requests that clergy and lay leaders receive training on issues of human sexuality, sexual abuse, and the hearing of private confessions.

The fourth resolution requests each diocese in states other than NSW to institute or maintain a system of screening of all persons who work with children. NSW has child protection laws that require employers to screen employees who work with children.

The Clergy Discipline Working Group's full report can be found at the General Synod 2001 website www.anglican.org.au/generalsynod2001

The text of all resolutions and the voting results will be posted on the General Synod 2001 website.