Clergy, Pastor, Priest - Penitent Privilege

A common question when talking about abuse in the church is related to Clergy/Pastor/Priest - Penitent Privilege. This privilege differs from state to state. The below definition should help in your understanding when discussing this topic.

Clergy, Pastor, Priest - Penitent Privilege
From: USLeagal.com

The priest-penitent privilege protects communications between a person and a clergy member acting in a professional capacity as a spiritual advisor from disclosure. A clergyman uses the priest-penitent privilege to refuse to divulge confidential information received from a person during confession or similar exchanges.

Movements to repeal the priest-penitent privilege have been mounted in some states. In the wake of the awful child abuse scandals, several legislatures throughout the country are considering laws which would require the clergy to inform authorities of any cases of suspected child abuse.

Priest Shot at Maryland Church on Life Support to Donate Organs

From: The Washington Post

{ELLICOTT CITY, Md. — A Maryland Episcopal church where a disgruntled gunman opened fire says a priest who was critically wounded remains in critical condition but is not expected to survive.

St. Peter’s Episcopal Church released a statement Saturday saying the Rev. Mary-Marguerite Kohn, co-rector of the parish, is on life support to assist her family’s intentions to donate her organs.}

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Sexual Predator Training Helps Catch Priest

From: Reuters

{A Catholic priest already charged in state court with possessing thousands of pornographic images of young boys is due in a Pittsburgh courtroom on Friday on new federal charges, authorities said...

A parish employee who had undergone training to identify sexual predators allegedly saw Sorensen viewing child pornography on his computer and called the church child abuse hotline.}

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My Thoughts: What caught my attention in this article was the part about the parish employee who had received training to identify sexual predators. I think this is a very important point that so many churches overlook. Sexual sin and sexual abuse is a concern that is plaguing our churches and places of worship. Take the time to give your church membership and leadership the proper protection it needs. 

A second item of interest in this article was the fact that this was the second set of charges that this priest was receiving for child pornography. A good learning point is to insure that your church leadership is included in your screening when doing background checks. It is a good habit to re-screen everyone every couple of years. 

Chicago Priest, Beaten And Robbed Inside Church

From: Huffington Post

{A veteran Chicago priest was beaten and robbed inside the Far South Side church where he has served as a pastor since 1977.

Rev. Daniel Mallette, pastor emeritus at St. Margaret of Scotland Church, located in the 9800 block of South Throop Street, awoke around 12:30 a.m. in the church's rectory to two male intruders standing over him, demanding he give them money, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

The intruders proceeded to beat and rob the Rev. Mallette, 80, when he apparently did not move fast enough to their liking.}

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Trial Begins for Janitor Accused of Killing Priest

This is an update on a story that we reported on earlier in the year.

From: CBS News

{(AP) MORRISTOWN, N.J. — The trial of a church janitor accused of murdering a New Jersey priest began Thursday with prosecutors arguing that the man stabbed his employer and methodically covered his tracks out of fear he was about to be fired and the defense countering it was a crime of passion in which the janitor snapped under the pressure of unspecified threats from the priest.}

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