The Associated Press found that more than 130 bills have been introduced to amend child sex abuse reporting laws since 1987. None of them succeeded in closing the clergy loophole.
, had advised the bishop not to report the abuse to civil authorities because of Arizona’s clergy privilege law, according to documents revealed in a lawsuit. That failure to report allowed the church member, the late Paul Adams, to repeatedly rape his two daughters and allegedly abuse one of his four sons for many years.
Latter-day Saints and Catholics hold a number of influential positions as leaders and committee chairs in the Arizona Legislature, including the House speaker, and have been known to advance or block legislation in line with the church’s priorities and values. The LDS Church said in a written statement to the AP that a member who confesses child sex abuse “has come seeking an opportunity to reconcile with God and to seek forgiveness for their actions. ... That confession is considered sacred, and in most states, is regarded as a protected religious conversation owned by the confessor.”
Republican Rep. Merrill Nelson speaks during a special session at the Utah State Capitol, April 18, 2018, in Salt Lake City. Frank Vandervort, a law professor at the University of Michigan, and his co-author, Vincent Palusci, a pediatrics professor at New York University, told the AP that the study was limited, partly because churches often wouldn’t give them access to data on clergy reporting.
Michael Cassidy, a professor at Catholic-affiliated Boston College Law School and a former state prosecutor, said it’s unclear how a religious freedom case regarding the clergy privilege would turn out. “It’s utterly despicable that you think that this is all right,” said one anonymous caller claiming to represent a group called Young Americans for Liberty. “If you care to, return my message. If not, I’m going to call you every day until you do.”
The bill withered under McCarrick’s attack and never emerged from committee. Similar legislation proposed in 2004 suffered the same fate. Today, the clergy-penitent privilege in Maryland remains intact, even thoughVirginia updated its mandatory reporting law in 2006. While the bill started out with clergy among those listed as reporters with the privilege intact, they would be removed from the final bill. The privilege, oddly, was left in.
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Patagonia’s influence on Utah lands just got a ‘turbocharger’Patagonia has been shaping opinions on land use and outdoor recreation in the state for more than a decade, but that may just be the tip of the mountain.
Read more »
A history of minibottles in Utah - The Salt Lake Tribune
Read more »
Utah County Sheriff’s Office makes arrest in ritualistic sex abuse investigationMonths after a ritualistic sex abuse investigation disrupted the election for county attorney, a former therapist at the center of the allegations has been arrested, the Utah County Sheriff’s Office confirmed.
Read more »
ASU football offense looking for comeback after rough outing against UtahThe first-year offensive coordinator so far has led an offense that has underwhelmed with an average of 14 points in the last two games.
Read more »