I've got to say, this appears to be the best example of political commonsense I've seen in a long time.

Also, bipartisan support shows our country has not lost it's effectiveness after all.

The only real difficulty that I see, it would seem that when an individual is in the confessional, if certain admissions relating to the commission of a crime are made, there's still nothing to oblige a priest to break that oath. And alert police of his knowledge that a crime has, or is, or will be committed ? Neither is a Priest (having heard a confession, in the Confessional) compelled to identify the author of that crime.

I understand that many Catholics, and Priests take that sacred oath very solemnly, and I acknowledge that. That position's not changed for several centuries, eg even in the matter of murder.

Further, it would seem that Cardinal Pell is still of that opinion; the sanctity of the Confessional. A case of what's said in the confessional, stays in the confessional !

Notwithstanding, a Royal Commission enjoys enormous powers of compellability, can anyone honestly see a dedicated Catholic Priest, acting contrary to everything he holds dear and sacred, and break that oath ? Even if he's so directed by a Royal Commissioner ?

Further, could anyone honestly see that Priest ever being gaoled for contempt ? I don't believe so. Not because the Catholic Church possesses this immense power and influence, as it's often been asserted ?

Rather, I don't believe for a moment, a shrewd and sagacious Justice (wearing his or her Royal Commissioner's hat) would ever permit the situation to deteriorate to such a low, it became a notional calamity ! Could you imagine for a moment amongst the Court listings;

In the matter...

'The Scantity of the Confessional Vs C of A Jurisprudence'.

Never !

Belly,
You said,"A Muslim may wed and bed a 9 year old, may mutilate females.
And do both in our country despite the law saying they may not".

As you are well aware, I am aquainted with lots of alien cultural practices here in Aus, including forced marriages. But have not come across marriages of 9 year old girls yet.

Can you find a link or anything that shows 9 year old girls being married here.

Are the clerics an easier target than those in Law ? I wonder why she didn't make a point of hitting all.

Good evening to you BELLY...

I notice in one of your threads you say that a muslim may '...wed and bed a 9 year old...' ?

Are you sure of that my friend ? It's a serious criminal offence for a male person to have sexual relations with a minor, a female of 9 years of age. She's statute barred from giving consent in any event.

Further, you'd need to seek leave from a court for permission to marry a 9 year old female. And I'd be most surprised (irrespective of the circumstances tendered) if permission is ever granted.

I could well be wrong BELLY, as I've been out of the loop for a little while now. However, I'm still fairly sure I'm right ol' friend.

Belly,
I think you may be incorrect about 9 year old girls and marriage here.

You may be confusing the fact that the muslim phrophet Mahommad married a 9 year old girl, or so it is said. That was hundreds of years ago.

The reason i raise this is because if a muslim comes on this site he will cut you down quick if what you say is not correct. There are no muslims posting here at present that I am aware of, but there has been.

"""
Well there you go...the reason we never seem to get anywhere on this subject is that the minute the finger is pointed in one of the myriad directions where institutional abuse has occurred, we hear the same old lament..."It's a witch hunt"...""Others are doin' it too, so why pick on us", etc.
"""

Of course it's a witch hunt . Why else would you refuse to look in your own backyard before canning others?

If you're genuinely concerned about the children and bringing these vile animals to justice, you'll leave no stone unturned, including your own!

But as both the greens and labour refused to look into the Heiner affair where we all know these despicable atrocities occurred and were covered up. We know it's either a witch hunt or a distraction from the criminal mess they're in!

Burn them all I say. The whole steaming pile of them are no good!
bout time we threw a few in the river to see if they float!