Clergy as Mandatory Reporters of Child Abuse and Neglect - American Samoa
Date: May 2023
The Requirement for Clergy to Report
Citation: Ann. Code § 45.2002(a), (b)(11)
Any mandatory reporter who has reasonable cause to know or suspect that a child has been subjected to abuse or neglect, or who has observed the child being subjected to circumstances or conditions that would reasonably result in abuse or neglect, shall immediately report or cause a report to be made of that fact to the Child Protection Agency of the Department of Human Resources, who immediately informs the Department of Public Safety.
Persons required to report the abuse or neglect or its circumstances or conditions include any Christian Science practitioner.
Privileged Communications
The issue of privileged communications for clergy is not addressed in statute.