I believe it will be just the opposite. When a 10 yr old confesses to the "sin" of being molested by a priest, and the confessor is willing to be jailed rather than reveal the abuse to authorities, just how much of a witness do you think that will be? When, 20 years later, the victim reveals that the one person he or she told about the abuse did nothing to stop it from happening again and chose to protect himself and the reputation of the Church rather than doing something to protect the victim?  That will not be viewed as "heroic witness" by anybody with a conscience.

It is not just predator priests who go to confession, after all. Child victims convinced that they caused the predator priest to sin or that they somehow participated willingly in the sexual molestation by allowing it to happen to themselves may very well confess these "sins."

Heroes are those who are willing to do the right thing, especially when it comes to the safety of children, no matter what canon law has to say