but it makes perfect marketing sense ... just like Swiss banking secrete

I think that these laws are a just exercises in window dressing. Even if the public prosecutor's office should somehow obtain some evidence - Where would it come from? - they would probably decide against engaging a trial. The only witnesses would be the two blokes present in the booth.
The church is better organised than the Mafia.
This article is free advertising for that criminal organisation.

I think that these laws are a just exercises in window dressing. Even if the public prosecutor's office should somehow obtain some evidence - Where would it come from? - they would probably decide against engaging a trial. The only witnesses would be the two blokes present in the booth.
The church is better organised than the Mafia.
This article is free advertising for that criminal organisation.

Excommunication or guilt? So if the priests/pastors actually did this they could be excommunicated by one confession?

Nasty-looking character. Lock him up.

For a catholic priest there is actually a clear get out of jail for free card they can play with the church. "The essential act of Penance, on the part of the penitent, is contrition, a clear and decisive rejection of the sin committed, together with a resolution not to commit it again..." Therefore a priest could clearly argue that any repeat offender was not a "true" Penitent but was merely taking prurient pleasure in bragging about their misdeeds and should therefore not be covered by the "Seal of the Confessional."

I can't make the Catholic Church disappear but it doesn't stop me from being able to poke holes in this "Seal of the Confessional" BS they want to hide behind because it isn't even consistent with their own doctrine.

ugh! disgusting as usual

I do not really understand your emoji though if you are proud.
However good this legislation may seem to be it really is total hypocrisy in the face of Australian Family Laws, Australian Child Care Laws, and the treatment of children as chattels of wealth and weapons of discrimination in family law matters, aboriginal welfare (intervention laws) and off course Australia's very own concentration camps used to incarcerate refugee children and others.
I suggest that it is yet again discrimination against Roman Catholics. No one has asked these questions of rabbis but of course Australia's famous example involves a woman and any mention of her being a Jew will be taken as anti Semitic.
Have you read the following:
The sex abuse royal commission went to some dark places — here's some of what it found - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) [cmcm.com]

Child abuse in Australia has not just been limited to the Roman Catholics.

At least you still have Coopers to fall back on

I was just reading it in the news. They consider themselves above the law.
Bring out the lions.