Clergy Confession and Child Abuse Law | Tucson News

Tucson News Today | 2 Min Now | The Daily News Now! · Jul 31, 2026 · 1m

Arizona’s Supreme Court just sided with religious freedom, ruling clergy don’t have to report child abuse heard in confession — even if it’s illegal — as long as silence is part of their faith. The case, involving the LDS Church and two bishops, stems from a 2017 lawsuit after a man confessed to abusing his kids, was excommunicated, and died before trial — while his victims sued, claiming the church violated mandatory reporting laws. The court dismissed the case, citing First Amendment protections and saying courts can’t second-guess how religious leaders interpret their faith. This ruling…