Friday, February 22, 2019

THIS PRAISEWORTHY BILL, IF IT PASSES AND GETS SIGNED BY GOV. NEWSOM, WILL COLLIDE HEADON AGAINST THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

Bill Would Make Clergy Report Abuse Revealed In Confessions

LAPPL News Watch
February 21, 2019

A California lawmaker said Wednesday the state should require clergy members to report suspected child abuse or neglect even if they learn of it during confession.

Clergy members are among a list of more than 40 “mandated reporters,” meaning they are required under state law to report suspected abuse. But that doesn’t apply if they learn about something during a private communication such as confession, a sacrosanct practice in the Catholic church.

A bill by Democratic Sen. Jerry Hill would eliminate that exemption. “The law should apply equally to all professionals who have been designated as mandated reporters of these crimes - with no exceptions, period,” he said in a statement. “The exemption for clergy only protects the abuser and places children at further risk.”

1 comment:

bob walsh said...

I admit to mixed feelings about this.