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From clergy to coaches, states debate who should report child abuse and neglect
Lawmakers are broadening reporting duties for adults who work with children, while clergy exemptions and confession rules face legal and religious challenges.
- State lawmakers across the country are debating whether to expand mandated reporter laws to include clergy and other professionals with unsupervised access to children to prevent abuse.
- A Washington law requiring clergy to report abuse during confession faced legal challenges, as Catholic bishops argued it "puts Roman Catholic priests to an impossible choice" between First Amendment protections and legal compliance.
- Vermont state Rep. Esme Cole introduced a bill to repeal clergy-confidentiality exceptions, while Missouri state Sen. Tracy McCreery sponsored legislation requiring religious workers to report abuse after conversations with survivors.
- Cole described a "pass the trash" loophole where abusers move to different churches, arguing that mandatory reporting is essential to stop this cycle and protect vulnerable children.
- Beyond churches, states are adding coaches and camp volunteers to reporting lists, with legislatures approving measures requiring any "coach of a school activity" to be a mandated reporter.
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23 Articles
Coverage Details
Total News Sources23
Leaning Left20Leaning Right0Center1Last UpdatedBias Distribution95% Left
Bias Distribution
- 95% of the sources lean Left
95% Left
L 95%
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