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Child Abuse

Arizona clergy not required to report child abuse in confessions, court rules

August 16, 2026 at 1:08 AM MT · via The Guardian · Summarized by Mormon News from original reporting

Arizona clergy not required to report child abuse in confessions, court rules
Image via The Guardian

The Guardian reports on the Arizona Supreme Court's ruling that clergy who learn of child abuse in confessions are not required to report it to authorities. The unanimous decision held that religious confession privileges override mandatory reporting laws. The case involved a Mormon bishop who did not report a father's confession of sexually abusing his daughter. Civil liberties and religious freedom advocates supported the ruling; child protection groups opposed it.

Read the full story at The Guardian

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