Arizona court upholds clergy privilege in child abuse case

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By MICHAEL REZENDES and JASON DEAREN 2 hours ago

The Arizona Supreme Court has ruled that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints can refuse to answer questions or turn over documents under a state law that exempts religious officials from having to report child sex abuse if they learn of the crime during a confessional setting.

The ruling was issued April 7 but not released to the public until Tuesday. A lawsuit filed by child sex abuse victims accuses the church, widely known as the Mormon church, two of its bishops, and other church members of conspiracy and negligence in not reporting church member Paul Adams for abusing his older daughter as early as 2010. This negligence, the lawsuit argues, allowed Adams to continuing abusing the girl for as many as seven years, a time in which he also abused the girl’s infant sister.

Lynne Cadigan, an attorney for the Adams children who filed the lawsuit, criticized the court’s ruling.

“Unfortunately, this ruling expands the clergy privilege beyond what the legislature intended by allowing churches to conceal crimes against children,” she said.



Read more: https://apnews.com/article/mormon-church-child-sex-abuse-e02ae4470a5a53cbeb9aa146ff2762ac

[Diamond_Dog]

1. Yeah, let's give these dangerous perverts a free pass

Cause they’re part of a big church

Sickening.

[Baitball Blogger]

2. Criminy. So a State Supreme Court is allowing a church to protect pedophiles.

Lots wrong with that.

[kimbutgar]

5. And MTG says it's the "Democrats" who are peophiles?

[Rebl2]

7. Just what

I was thinking.

[not fooled]

3. Here you go

https://ballotpedia.org/Arizona_Supreme_Court]

As of January 2023, all seven judges on the court were appointed by a Republican governor.

All you need to know. LDS extremely influential in this cesspool. I hope the new Dem governor can change that.

[czarjak]

4. Mormons are for Mormons.(Only)

[TheBlackAdder]

6. Church of the Present-Day Pedos more like.

[dchill]

9. That describes all religions.

IMO.

[MayReasonRule]

14. Delusional Depravity Defines Religion

No exceptions.

[whathehell]

16. What "describes all religions"?

[ExWhoDoesntCare]

21. Do you really need it spelled out?

Every religion has demonstrated a willingness to protect pedophiles in their midst, rather than the children raped therein.

Need anything else explained about this one?

[whathehell]

22. I'm afraid so, given all the SECULAR institutions

that have done the same?...Penn State with boys?..Michigan State U doctor abusing girls WITH the knowledge of the University President?

Studies showing that religious clergy are NO more likely to abuse children than men in OTHER professions, including teachers who are 100 times MORE likely to abuse than Catholic priests?

https://go2tutors.com/teachers-more-likely-abuse-kids/#:~:text=of%20Ed%2C%20public%20school%20teachers,a%20method%20of%20recruiting%20victims.

https://www.newsweek.com/priests-commit-no-more-abuse-other-males-70625#amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&aoh=16813481940240&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&share=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.newsweek.com%2Fpriests-commit-no-more-abuse-other-males-70625

[Permanut]

23. Whataboutism on display..

Seems that clergy would not conduct, approve of or cover up any of these horrible crimes

[whathehell]

24. Inconvenient facts on display

Sorry if they don't fit a particular narrative.

[2live is 2fly]

8. Wonder wtf kind of justice victims past, present & future could ever receive if say this

case were to make it to conservative and catholic majority SCOTUS!

[2live is 2fly]

12. The argument isn't just about confession of past deeds, but allowing them to continue because

thats what they're doing.

[Grins]

10. The Mormons have "confessionals?"

I thought only Catholics had that.

[whathehell]

17. They don't have confessionals..

but they do "confess" in counseling sessions.

[raising2moredems]

11. Wouldn't fly in my state

but would not surprise me if the perverts appealed to SCOTUS. But not sure if SCOTUS considers LDS a "religion". Would be an interesting case to watch.
And every article I read that notes how church attendance is dropping makes me feel really good. May I live long enough to see the end of organized religion.

[not fooled]

13. But remember it's Drag Queens who pose a problem

Oh wait, no.

[Farmer-Rick]

15. Religions are immoral and unethical

Why do they need these kinds of legal protections if they were doing the moral and ethical thing.

An outdated institution ruining the lives of millions.

[keithbvadu2]

18. 'Protect the church over the children.'

All it takes is a couple of weeks of prayer and 'God has forgiven me.'

[flying_wahini]

19. Churches+ the courts + GOP Are all morally bankrupt.

[rockfordfile]

20. wow