Church hits out over scrapping of ‘privilege’

THERE was growing opposition in the Catholic Church last night to government proposals to bring the hearing of confessions under the remit of reporting of allegations of child abuse.

A representative of the Association of Catholic Priests (ACP) said the plan was “ridiculous” and “a red herring”, lending voice to earlier misgivings expressed by other Church figures.

Fr Tony Flannery, a Redemptorist based in Co Galway and a member of the ACP, is also brother of Fine Gael strategist Frank Flannery, but labelled the government plans “a minefield”.