Foundation behind Mormonleaks Urges Utah Lawmakers to Remove ‘clergy Exemption’ from Child Abuse Reporting Laws

By Peggy Fletcher Stack
Salt Lake Tribune
November 7, 2018

https://local.sltrib.com/eu/

The Truth and Transparency Foundation — the nonprofit group behind the controversial MormonLeaks website — is launching a petition drive calling on Utah legislators to drop the “clergy exemption” from laws about mandatory reporting of child abuse.

This exemption frees religious leaders from reporting abuse if they learn about it from perpetrators. It is based on a belief in the sanctity of the communication between penitent believers who confess to their spiritual leaders.

Such an exemption, though, is “an affront to the safety and well-being of abuse survivors,” the group writes in an email that went out Wednesday to all Utah legislators, “and provides an environment where predators are enabled.”