D'Arcy: Government must avoid 'megaphone diplomacy' on confessional issue

The Government is being urged to avoid the use of "megaphone diplomacy" when it comes to the issue of the confessional.

In the wake of the Cloyne report on the handling of clerical child abuse allegations, Justice Minister Alan Shatter is calling for legislation to make it mandatory to report crimes, regardless of any internal rules of a religion.

This would mean what is said in confession would not remain private.

Broadcaster and rector of the monastery in Enniskillen, Father Brian D'Arcy, said that the Minister should avoid making laws to govern the confessional box because child abuse is rarely admitted or reported during confession.

"Megaphone diplomacy never works," he said.

"I think this is due to a lack of understanding on both sides.

"Surely to heavens in this day and age before they would bring in legislation like that anyone should have some way of talking with people involved in all of this, particularly people of good will, people who want to protect children, and who don't want to be involved in a red herring in a situation which never occurs anyway."