Quote:
Originally Posted by George
You have brought up an interesting point. If the victim told a minister he/she was being abused, the minister must report it to the law within 24 hours. If the abuser confessed to the minister, the minister is not required to report the penitant to the law. This is where a minister can be accused of "covering up" if the case becomes public.
|
George,
As a pastor who has unfortunately had to deal with three such cases, it is important to correct this misinformation. If this is the case in your local it is possibly one of only about 7 states in the country whose laws have not been updated.
In 43 states (the last I checked) a minister has mandatory reporting requirements (when involving a minor) regardless of who brings up the alleged offense. This includes Catholic Priests (which previously were exempt from reporting) however, most of the states exempt a minister from testifying what has been told them in confidential counseling/confessional meetings. In other words you must report the alleged offense so that it can be investigated, but you do not have to disclose what was confessed or described to you.
This penitent exclusion applies for other crimes, but in most cases is not applicable as it relates to children and abuse of any kind.
As a pastor/minister/counselor when a victim/abuser begins to tell me something that I feel may require reporting, I advise them that if they are going to tell me what I think they may be going to, I am required by law to report it to the authorities, and that I will indeed do so.
Abuse of any kind is not something I will sit by and allow to go unrecompensed.
Threaded Mode
