Clergy as Mandatory Reporters of Child Abuse and Neglect - Michigan

The Requirement for Clergy to Report 

Citation: Comp. Laws § 722.623 

A member of the clergy who has reasonable cause to suspect child abuse or neglect shall make immediately, by telephone or otherwise, an oral report, or cause an oral report to be made, of the suspected child abuse or neglect to the Department of Human Services.

Privileged Communications

Citation: Comp. Laws § 722.631 

Any legally recognized privileged communication, except that between attorney and client or that made to a member of the clergy in their professional character in a confession or similarly confidential communication, is abrogated and shall not constitute grounds for excusing a report otherwise required to be made or for excluding evidence in a civil protective proceeding resulting from a report made pursuant to this act. 

This section does not relieve a member of the clergy from reporting suspected child abuse or child neglect if that member of the clergy receives information concerning suspected child abuse or child neglect while acting in any other capacity listed under § 722.623.