Catholic priests may be forced to reveal if they heard about crimes during confession under a proposal before Victoria's inquiry into child sex abuse.
Priests would be ordered to reveal crimes told to them in private confessions but priests say they will resist any such moves, the Herald Sun says.
A parliamentary committee also will look at new laws that would see bishops face criminal charges for the misconduct of their priests.
The committee is asking those making submissions whether they think mandatory reporting rules should be imposed on the confessional.
The Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne would not comment because it did not want to pre-empt the work of the inquiry.
Archbishop of Melbourne, Denis Hart, has previously said the confessional must remain sacrosanct.
