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BAD news: Governor signs bill requiring clergy to report child abuse [View all]
https://cruxnow.com/church-in-the-usa/2019/03/28/governor-signs-bill-requiring-clergy-to-report-child-abuse/In response in part to the child sex abuse scandal in the Catholic Church, Virginia will have a new law on July 1 requiring priests, ministers, rabbis and other clergy members to report suspected cases of child abuse or neglect.
Gov. Ralph Northam has signed into law two bills — HB 1659, sponsored by Del. Karrie Delaney, D-Fairfax, and SB 1257, introduced by Sen. Jill Holtzman Vogel, R-Fauquier. The measures mandate that religious officials must report any suspected abuse to local law enforcement.
The bills passed unanimously in the House and Senate last month.
Gov. Ralph Northam has signed into law two bills — HB 1659, sponsored by Del. Karrie Delaney, D-Fairfax, and SB 1257, introduced by Sen. Jill Holtzman Vogel, R-Fauquier. The measures mandate that religious officials must report any suspected abuse to local law enforcement.
The bills passed unanimously in the House and Senate last month.
Sounds like good news, right? No it's bad news because it still allows churches to cover up abuse:
However, the law will exempt clergy members from the reporting requirement when confidentiality is required by the religious organization, such as anything a priest hears during confession.
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