Clergy as Mandatory Reporters of Child Abuse and Neglect - Pennsylvania

The Requirement for Clergy to Report 

Citation: Cons. Stat. Tit. 23, § 6311

Adults who are required to report suspected child abuse include a clergy member, priest, rabbi, minister, Christian Science practitioner, religious healer, or spiritual leader of any regularly established church or other religious organization.

Privileged Communications

Citation: Cons. Stat. Tit. 23, § 6311.1

The privileged communications between a mandated reporter and a patient or client of the mandated reporter shall not apply to a situation involving child abuse or relieve the mandated reporter of the duty to make a report of suspected child abuse.

Confidential communications made to a member of the clergy are protected under title 42, § 5943 (relating to confidential communications to members of the clergy).