Arizona ruling: Religions don't have to report child sex abuse to authorities

The Arizona Supreme Court ruled that religious institutions can decide whether their doctrines require them to keep a confession about child abuse confidential. Courts and juries cannot replace a church’s interpretation of its own religious rules, the justices said.

The unanimous ruling means the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and two bishops will not face a lawsuit over their failure to report abuse confessed by Bisbee man Paul Adams. Adams told a bishop in 2011 that he had sexually abused one of his daughters. The bishop advised Adams to turn himself in or have his wife report him, but did not contact authorities.

Adams continued abusing his daughter for years and also abused another child. The abuse became public in 2017 after officials in New Zealand found a video online. Adams later died by suicide in jail. His wife was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison after admitting she failed to report the abuse.

Arizona law generally requires suspected child abuse to be reported immediately, but it includes an exception for confidential religious communications when withholding the information is considered reasonable and necessary under the faith’s teachings. The children’s attorney, Tucson lawyer Lynne Cadigan, said she plans to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to review the decision. She argued the ruling gives religious groups too much power to keep abuse secret.