The Conference of Bishops of France is protesting a bill that was debated in the National Assembly June 1 and places the seal of confession in jeopardy, aiming to increase child protection measures by forcing priests to report child abuse even if they learned of it in the confessional.
The bill directly addresses the traditionally held exemption for the sacrament of confession, stating that “Ministers of religion are not exempt with regard to information which they have become aware of in the exercise of their ministry,” The European Conservative reported.
According to the outlet, the portion regarding mandatory reporting of abuse is also highlighted in the bill’s introduction, where it states that “no ‘seal of confession’ can prevent” priests from informing authorities of violence against minors.
In a statement published by French news outlet Le Figaro, the French bishops warn that the bill — largely supported by President Emmanuel Macron’s political party — is endangering religious freedom in the country and setting a precedent for state interference in the Church.
The European Conservative reported that the statement contains an argument that “the confidentiality of confession is a cornerstone of Catholic practice and cannot be compromised without undermining the very nature of the sacrament.”
“The secrecy of confession is not a privilege for priests, but a right for the faithful,” Grenoble Bishop Jean-Marc Eychenne stated, according to The European Conservative.
The outlet added that supporters of the bill are largely secularist and left-leaning lawmakers who claim the legislation will help prevent and prosecute violence against minors.