France's top bishop acknowledges that law takes precedence over confession secrecy

FILE PHOTO: Archbishop of Paris Michel Aupetit, French Prime Minister Jean Castex and President of Bishops' Conference of France Eric de Moulins-Beaufort talk to the press after their meeting at the Matignon Hotel in Paris, France October 29, 2020. Martin Bureau/Pool via REUTERS

PARIS (Reuters) - France's top bishop said on Tuesday that the secrecy of the confession should not take precedence over French laws on sex crimes against children, reversing his previous position after he was summoned by interior minister Gerald Darmanin.

Following publication of a damning report about sexual abuse of children by the clergy, Eric de Moulins-Beaufort, who is archbishop of Reims and head of the Bishops' Conference of France, said in a radio interview last week that the rule of secrecy would prevent a priest from reporting sex crimes against children that were revealed during Catholic confession.