Arizona clergy who learn of child abuse in confessions aren’t required to report it, court rules
State supreme court rules in case of two bishops who were silent about three children abused by Mormon parents
TL;DR
- Arizona Supreme Court ruled clergy are not required to report child abuse learned during religious confession.
- The ruling protects the 'seal of the confessional', a religious tenet.
- The case involved three children abused by their parents, with church leaders aware of the abuse but remaining silent.
- The LDS Church welcomed the ruling, emphasizing condemnation of abuse and commitment to prevention.
- The court cited the First Amendment's religious freedom clauses as preventing secular courts from assessing clergy's reasons for not reporting.
- The ruling overturned a lower court's decision that favored the children.