The Child Abuse Reporting Expansion Act, a bill making its way through the New York legislature, would make clergy mandated reporters

If a member of the clergy suspects that a child in the congregation has been abused, is the clergyperson legally required to report it?

In New York state, the answer is no. But some advocates, clergy members and lawmakers think that should change.

The issue is at the heart of the Child Abuse Reporting Expansion Act, a bill making its way through the state legislature that, if passed, would make clergy mandated reporters.

Anti-abuse advocate Abbi Nye, part of the advocacy group CFCtoo, said her group “is calling for CARE Act to be passed because we see it as a necessary first step toward making our communities and children safer.”

CFCtoo is a collective of former Christian Fellowship Center members. The CFC has five locations in New York’s North…