Australia lifts the seal of the confession

[Act_of_Reparation]

14. I have considered it

And in some cases, you might be correct. It largely depends on the specifics of the reform, chiefly, what the Church considers "serious crimes".

The important thing to bear in mind is that blanket moral precepts are rarely moral under every conceivable circumstance. Generally speaking, I do believe that parishioners seeking guidance through the sacrament of reconciliation have the right to expect privacy, but not always. In not reporting a penitent parishioner who continues to threaten to the safety of others, a cleric may through omission of action allow others to come to harm. The moral thing to do in such a circumstance is to report the person, neutralize the threat they pose to others, and then work on their spiritual needs in an environment where relapse is less of a concern.

I'd have to see what the Archbishop is specifically proposing to comment on whether I agree with it partially, in its totality, or not at all, but my reason for commenting here has more to do with hrmjustin feeling like there is no excuse for making exceptions to the Church's privacy policy. They may be few, but I think there are circumstances in which the ethical thing to do is to toss privacy out the window.