California passes controversial confession bill

California recently passed a bill that would require clergy to report allegations of child abuse to the police even if the information is received through the sacrament of reconciliation. The bill is the first of its kind in any state.

Clergy are already mandatory reporters for child abuse in California, as are teachers, medical professionals, and law enforcement. However, current state law allows an exception for “penitential communications” to allow clergy to preserve the secrecy of the confessional.