SB 360, Threat to Seal of Confession, Passes California Senate

Andy Rivas, executive director of the California Catholic Conference, issued the following statement following the passage of SB 360 Mandatory reporting (Hill, D-San Mateo):

“We are disappointed that the California State Senate today passed SB 360, a bill that will help no one yet has the potential to hurt everyone.  While the California Catholic Conference shares the desire to combat the scourge of sexual abuse of minors and is committed to strengthening mandatory reporting requirements, interjecting the government into the confessional is not going to accomplish that objective and could undermine the guarantee of confidentiality all of us depend upon.  The Senate Appropriations Committee inserted amendments that recognize the need to protect confession.  Unfortunately, those changes left out protections for employees and members of the church.  We will continue to work to protect confession for all as the bill moves to the State Assembly.”

Send an email to your Assembly Member opposing SB 360.

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