Catholic priests are not above the law, according to Knut Storberget, the Minister of Justice.Those who fail to report cases of sexual abuse of minors because of their oath of confidentiality could face up to a year in jail.
The obligation to prevent serious criminal acts (avvergingsplikt) is a legal clause that applies, for example, in cases involving the sexual exploitation of minors.
This has to be reported to the authorities – or otherwise prevented – when people have reliable knowledge of, or fear incidents are imminent, or about to be committed.
This didn’t happen in the case of former Bishop-prelate of Trondheim, Georg Müller, part of sexual abuse scandal now affecting the Norwegian Catholic Church.
“We face a situation where the Catholic Church says it won’t follow the Penal Code. Reactions would have probably been harsher if this had happened in other faiths,” Storberget tells Dagbladet.
Role models
He warns of the possible consequences if the Catholic Church doesn’t confront the issue.
“We can’t expect children manage to adhere to the law, if communities and organisations with power, resources, and position don’t do it themselves.”
Storberget goes on to say he’ll be proposing a bill to Parliament with amendments to the current law, aiming to put it into effect before the summer.
This will include aiding and abetting a sexual offence, and widening the obligation to report cases where there are reasonable grounds to suspect it could happen.
He’s also sent a letter to priests, doctors and lawyers, amongst others, reminding them of their obligations, and the repercussions of failing to carry them out.
“It’s precisely the children who really deserve the protection of God and the law. I believe this is something the Church also understands,” he says.
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