Can a priest report a crime from confession?

The Catholic practice of confession, also known as the Sacrament of Reconciliation, allows individuals to seek spiritual absolution by confessing their sins under a seal of confidentiality. However, this practice has long been in tension with legal obligations regarding the reporting of crimes, particularly child abuse.

The principle of the "seal of confession" holds that a priest cannot disclose what is confessed to them under any circumstances, a rule that is deeply embedded in Catholic doctrine. However, secular law in Australia increasingly requires mandatory reporting of certain offences, raising questions about whether this religious obligation can stand against legal duties.