Melbourne Archbishop Peter Comensoli has said he would sooner go to jail than comply with laws introduced by the state government last month aimed at forcing religious figures to reveal admissions of child sexual abuse made during confession. The church says that it supports mandatory reporting and encourages victims to report abuse to police but will not break the seal of confession. In the motion, Cr Frances Gilley asks council officers to “write to all churches and places of worship requesting assurances that all staff and associates will abide by the law of mandatory reporting”. If this assurance was not received, Cr Frances Gilley said the council should “clearly advise people of the risks of using such institutions”. “Should we put up great big signs [in front of churches], or should we write on the pavement? I don’t know, but I believe that we should look at that,” said Cr Frances Gilley.

Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video On Friday, lord mayor Sally Capp said she supported the motion, which she said reflected the expectations of the community regarding mandatory reporting. "As a city we absolutely have high expectations of places being safe, especially for children," Ms Capp told Radio 3AW. "Our main aim is to make sure we have safe places, particulary for children, throughout our city." An Anglican priest for 23 years, Cr Frances Gilley was executive director of the Brotherhood of St Laurence and was himself a victim of childhood sexual abuse.

Melbourne councillor Nicholas Frances Gilley Credit:Eddie Jim Cr Frances Gilley said the city council had a duty of care to ensure children were safe and that it was “appropriate to advise children, and those caring for them, of places where they may not be safe”. In the light of the Archbishop’s comments about mandatory reporting, Cr Frances Gilley said this included churches such as St Patrick’s Cathedral. Last year former Melbourne archbishop George Pell was found guilty of sexually abusing two choirboys at St Patrick's Cathedral in East Melbourne in the 1990s. Pell is now appealing his six-year prison sentence. Melbourne Archbishop Peter Comensoli. Credit:AAP

There are fewer than a dozen Catholic places of worship across the Melbourne City Council areas. Approached for comment in response to Cr Frances Gilley's motion, Francis Moore, the church's executive director of administration, said: "The Archdiocese is committed to the safety of all children and has been on the public record since 2013 in favour of the extension of mandatory reporting to include clergy. "Other than noting that the proposed motion may be discussed at a committee meeting and not by the full council, we have no further comment." The proposal comes as a survivors’ rights group separately petitioned Archbishop Comensoli asking him to respect the mandatory reporting of abuse. Clare Leaney, head of victims' advocacy group In Good Faith Foundation, said she supported the proposal because it was a call for the church to treat the safety of children as a “paramount” concern.

"I think for many survivors the refusal of the Archbishop to obey what is for most people a very simple rule designed to protect children has been very upsetting. It has once again set survivors at odds with their faith," Ms Leaney said. Chrissie Foster, whose two daughters were raped by a Melbourne priest, said Cr Frances Gilley’s motion highlighted the fact that church priorities had not substantially changed despite the royal commission into institutional responses to child abuse. Loading “Archbishop Comensoli says quite proudly that he’d rather go to jail than break the seal of confession. He’s chosen to protect paedophiles instead of children. That’s business as usual for the church.” If you or anyone you know needs support, you can contact the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service on 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732), Lifeline 131 114, or beyondblue 1300 224 636.