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Governor signs bill requiring clergy to report abuse

Corrine Fizer | Capital News Service

RICHMOND — In response in part to the child sex abuse scandal in
the Catholic Church, Virginia will have a new law 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.

 

Existing state law lists 18 categories of people who must report
information to local authorities if they “have reason to suspect that a child
is an abused or neglected child.” They include health care providers, police
officers, athletic coaches and teachers.

 

The new law will add a 19th category to the list of “mandatory reporters”:
“Any minister, priest, rabbi, imam, or duly accredited practitioner of any
religious organization or denomination usually referred to as a church.”

 

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.

 

A minister who hears about possible child abuse while counseling
a parishioner, for example, would not have to tell authorities.

 

Delaney said she filed her bill after a church in her Northern
Virginia district failed to act on a case of child abuse. She said 27 other
states have laws making clergy mandatory reporters.

 

“Members of the clergy are in a role of trust and authority and
they should not be held to a different standard than every other professional
whose duty it is to protect children,” Delaney said.

 

Child abuse by clergy has been a national concern in recent years
with disclosures that some Catholic priests had sexually abused children and
their superiors had covered up the incidents.

 

Last month, the Diocese of Richmond released the names of 43
clergy members who “have a credible and substantiated allegation of sexual
abuse involving a minor.” The Diocese of Arlington released the names of 16
such individuals in February.

 

The Virginia Catholic Conference, which represents the two
dioceses on matters of public policy, supported the legislation introduced by
Delaney and Vogel.

 

“On behalf of our state’s two Catholic dioceses, the Virginia
Catholic Conference supported HB 1659 and SB 1257,” said Jeff Caruso, the VCC’s
executive director. “The legislation strengthens protections for children and
respects religious doctrines and practices. We supported the same proposal in
2006 and are pleased that it will become law this year.”

 

Grier Weeks, senior executive of the National Association to
Protect Children, sees Virginia’s new law as a step toward change but also a
reflection of how much work is left to do.

 

“Any action is great, but you shouldn’t need laws for people to
do the right thing — especially when protecting children,” Weeks said.

 

Weeks warned parents that predators are usually those they trust
most around their children, not strangers.

 

“Predators often seem friendly,” Weeks said. “It is important to
stay vigilant.”

 

Northam signed the legislation just days before the start of
National Child Abuse Prevention Month April 1.

 

How to report suspected abuse

The Diocese of Arlington encourages anyone who knows of
misconduct or abuse on the part of any cleric or employee of the diocese to
notify civil authorities, report it to the Virginia State Police Clergy Abuse
Hotline (VirginiaClergyHotline.com and 1-833-454-9064) and reach out to Frank
Moncher, victim assistance coordinator, at 703/841-2530. The diocesan child
protection policy is online at arlingtondiocese.org.

 

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