Clergy Communications and Clergy as Mandatory Reporters

This report gives a state-by-state accounting of when clergy are mandated reporters of child maltreatment. “All states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories have statutes regarding the reporting of suspected child maltreatment. Twenty-seven states have statutes that specifically require clergy to report child maltreatment under certain circumstances.” Included in this compilation are statutes that: (1) expressly address clergy communications and (2) specify clergy as mandatory reporters. Statutes that address whether clergy communications are privileged are listed first, followed by statutes regarding reporting, and finally, other relevant statutes regarding clergy.”