Members of the clergy must be included as mandated reporters of child sex abuse nationwide, meaning that they are legally obligated to report any good faith suspicions of this abuse to law enforcement or child protection agencies. "Privileged communication" must also be removed from their reporting obligations so they cannot claim that confessions of childhood sex abuse can be considered legally confidential.

This ruling is necessary as too often, children raised in very religious homes or in cloistered, secluded religious environments will speak first and foremost, and even exclusively, to their clergy when the victim of sex abuse. Far too many members of the clergy have shown themselves to be more concerned with the reputation of their church and any civil liabilities they may face from such claims to report these to the proper authorities. When such cases are reported to authorities by others including the victims, clergy may also then hide behind "privileged communication" rights and protect known child molesters from proper investigation and prosecution.

The welfare and safety of children must come first no matter any potential liabilities faced by the church and fellow congregation members. Clergy members must be considered mandated reporters and their rights to "privileged communication" must be removed in cases of suspected, alleged, or confessed child molestation. Clergy should be compelled to come forward with any evidence of such abuse, including reports and records the church may have made. This must be done to get justice for victims and ensure proper prosecution of abusers so as to reduce the risk of re-offending. 

Visit JWvictims.org to find out more.