Ministers Urged to Back Bill on Reporting Abuse
The United Church of Christ is urging its ministers to support a bill that would require clergy to report suspected sexual abuse.
A denomination teacher recently said his confession of abuse to church leaders was a spiritual act and should be kept secret.
Susan Dickerman, associate minister of the United Church of Christ, has e-mailed every Congregationalist minister in Massachusetts, asking them to work for a change in the law.
Massachusetts is one of 21 states that exempt clergy from laws requiring people who work with children to turn in alleged sexual abusers.
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