Arizona Supreme Court: Clergy not required to report child abuse revealed during confession

The Arizona Supreme Court unanimously ruled that clergy do not have to report child abuse disclosed during confession or another confidential religious communication when keeping it private is consistent with their faith’s teachings.

The case involved a 2020 lawsuit against The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and two Cochise County bishops. Court records say Paul Adams admitted abusing his children during multiple church communications, including confessions and a disciplinary proceeding. He was later excommunicated.

The children sued the church and bishops, arguing they had violated Arizona’s mandatory reporting law. A trial judge dismissed the case in 2023, an appeals court reversed that decision, and the state Supreme Court reinstated the dismissal.

The justices cited the First Amendment, saying courts cannot question clergy members about how they interpret their own religious doctrine.