Baton Rouge Diocese Petition

o.
!" $%& '()*&+& ,-(*$ -. $%& /"0$&1 '$2$&3

__________
THI !OMA CATHO!IC CH!!CH OI THI IOCISI
OI IATO !O!CI A
THI !IVI!I M. JIII!IY IAYHI,
Pe/i/ionere,
t.
!OII!T . MAYI!X A !ISA M. MAYI!X,
IeeponJen/e.
__________
On IofIfIon for n WrIf of CorfIornrI fo fho
Suromo Courf of !ouIsInnn
__________
!"#$#$%& (%) * +)$# %( ,")#$%)*)$
__________

O M. !ICHA!
MICHAI! !. ISHAZO
Kinne,, 1llingloueen,
IiclorJ & DeSloco
120 Po,Jroe S/ree/, Sui/e
240
Aeu Orleone, Louieiono
70113
(04) 24-0206

AII! !. O!TIZ*
Initerei/, of Virginio
Sclool of Lou
S0 Moeeie IooJ
Clorlo//eetille, VA
22903
Jrotirginio.eJu
(434) 924-3127

*Couneel of IecorJ

i

-."/#$%& !)"/"&#"0

ThIs Courf hns Iong nnd consIsfonfIy hoId fhnf fho
IIrsf Amondmonf bInds cIvII courfs * * * fo nccof
fho docIsIons |of church nufhorIfIos] on mnffors of
dIscIIIno, fnIfh, InfornnI orgnnIznfIon, |nnd]
occIosInsfIcnI ruIo, cusfom or Inw. SerIion 1oe/ern
Or/loJox Dioceee v. Militojeticl, 426 !.S. 696, ?l3
(l9?6). |!]oIIgIous confrovorsIos nro nof fho roor
subjocf of cIvII courf InquIry|] nnd * * * n cIvII courf
musf nccof fho occIosInsfIcnI docIsIons of |n] church
* * * ns If fInds fhom. 1IiJ. Ior |n courf fo]
subsfIfufo|] Ifs InforrofnfIon of fho |church`s]
consfIfufIons for fhnf of fho |church IfsoIf Is whnf] fho
IIrsf nnd Iourfoonfh Amondmonfs forbId. 1J. nf
?2l. ThIs consfIfufIonnI commnnd Is known ns fho
roIIgIous quosfIon docfrIno.
Tho quosfIon rosonfod Is whofhor n courf cnn
Ivof IInbIIIfy for n rIosf`s fnIIuro fo roorf corfnIn
communIcnfIons fo ubIIc nufhorIfIos on fho courf`s
own doformInnfIon of whofhor fhoso communIcnfIons
consfIfufo confossIon|] per ee, A., infro, 9n, or
whofhor If musf rosocf fho church`s own vIow fhnf
such communIcnfIons nro confossIonnI nnd nbsoIufoIy
rofocfod from dIscIosuro by fho rIosf on onnIfy of
nufomnfIc oxcommunIcnfIon.

ii

!*)#$"/ #% #1" !)%,""0$&2 3"4%+
In nddIfIon fo fho nrfIos IdonfIfIod In fho cnfIon,
dofondnnfs boIow IncIudod fho osfnfo of Coorgo J.
ChnrIof, Jr., nnd fho ChnrIof IunornI Homo, Inc.

).4" 5678 /#*#"9"&#
IofIfIonor !omnn CnfhoIIc Church of fho Iocoso
of Infon !ougo hns no nronf corornfIon nnd no
ubIIcIy hoId corornfIon owns l0 or moro of Ifs
sfock.

III

#*34" %( ,%&#"&#/
Ingo
Q!ISTIO I!ISITI ....................................... I
IA!TIIS TO THI I!OCIIIC II!OW .......... II
!!!I 29.6 STATIMIT ....................................... II
TAI!I OI A!THO!ITIIS .................................... vI
OIIIOS II!OW ................................................. l
J!!ISICTIO........................................................ l
COSTIT!TIOA! A STAT!TO!Y
I!OVISIOS IVO!VI ................................. l
IT!O!CTIO ..................................................... 2
STATIMIT ............................................................ 3
A. Tho Sncrnmonf of !oconcIIInfIon ........................ 3
I. IncfunI AIIognfIons ............................................. 8
C. IrocoodIngs IoIow ............................................. l0
!IASOS IO! C!ATIC THI IITITIO ..... l4
I. Tho !ouIsInnn Suromo Courf`s HoIdIng
VIoInfos Tho IIrsf Amondmonf Iy AIIowIng
Sfnfos To OvorrIdo A !oIIgIon`s VIow Of Whnf
Ifs Own InIfh Monns And !oquIros ................. l4

Iv

#*34" %( ,%&#"&#/:;<=>?=@AB
Ingo
II. In !ojocfIng Tho IIrsf Amondmonf`s
!oIIgIous QuosfIon ocfrIno, Tho !ouIsInnn
Suromo Courf Cronfod A ConfIIcf WIfh AII
IodornI Courfs of AonIs And AII Ofhor
Sfnfo Suromo Courfs Thnf Hnvo ConsIdorod
If And A Irocf ConfIIcf In Ifs AIIcnfIon
WIfh Tho Socond And Iourfh CIrcuIfs And
Tho ow Jorsoy And Mnssnchusoffs Suromo
Courfs ................................................................ 25
III. ThIs Offon-!ocurrIng Issuo Is Ono Of
ConfrnI Imorfnnco To Churchos And ThoIr
Mombors ............................................................ 3l
IV. ThIs Cnso Is An IdonI VohIcIo Ior AddrossIng
Whofhor Sfnfos Cnn Socond-Cuoss !oIIgIons`
Own VIows As To Whnf ThoIr InIfh Monns
And !oquIros .................................................... 33
COC!!SIO ....................................................... 36
AIIIIX
!ouIsInnn Suromo Courf OInIon ................... ln
!ouIsInnn Courf of AonI OInIon ................ lln
!ouIsInnn IsfrIcf Courf Judgmonf on
MofIon In !ImIno ........................................ 65n
InrfInI TrnnscrIf of IsfrIcf Courf HonrIng
on MofIon In !ImIno, Iob. l9, 20l3
(confnInIng ornI oxInnnfIon of fho
ronsons for Ifs judgmonf) ........................... 6?n
!ouIsInnn Suromo Courf Ordor onyIng
!ohonrIng ................................................... ?0n
v

#*34" %( ,%&#"&#/:;<=>?=@AB
Ingo
!ouIsInnn Courf of AonI Ordor onyIng
!ohonrIng ................................................... ?6n
!oIovnnf Sfnfufory IrovIsIons ........................ ?8n

vI

#*34" %( *.#1%)$#$"/
Ingo(s)
,CDAD
Agoe/ini v. Iel/on,
52l !.S. 203 (l99?) ............................................. 20
Aguilor v. Iel/on,
4?3 !.S. 402 (l985) ............................................. 20
Alcocor v. Corp. of /le Co/lolic ArclIielop,
62? I.3d l288 (9fh CIr. 20l0) ............................. 26
Borglou/ v. Bureou of Koeler
Meo/ & IooJ Con/rol,
66 I.3d l33? (4fh CIr. l995) ......................... 29, 30
Beor v. IeforneJ Mennoni/e Clurcl,
34l A.2d l05 (In. l9?5) ...................................... 28
BoulJin v. AlexonJer,
82 !.S. l3l (l8?2) ............................................... l?
Br,ce v. 1piecopol Clurcl,
289 I.3d 648 (l0fh CIr. 2002) ............................. 2?
Buruell v. HoII, LoII, S/oree, 1nc.,
l34 S. Cf. 2?5l (20l4) ................................... l8, 23
Clurcl Of GoJ 1n Clrie/, 1nc. v. Cou/lon,
50? I.2d 599 (5fh CIr. l9?5) ............................... 3l
ConIe v. Cen/. Tex. Ann. Conf. Of Tle
Ini/eJ Me/loJie/ Clurcl,
l?3 I.3d 343 (5fh CIr. l999) ............................... 3l
Connoc/ Self-Sertice Koeler Meo/e, 1nc.
v. Weiee,
294 I.2d 4l5 (2d CIr. 2002) ........................... 29, 30
vII

#*34" %( *.#1%)$#$"/:;<=>?=@AB

Ingo(s)
Corporo/ion of PreeiJing Bielop of
Clurcl of Lo//er-Do, Soin/e v. Anoe
483 !.S. 32? (l98?) ............................................. 2l
Cox BrooJcoe/ing Corp. v. Coln,
420 !.S. 469 (l9?5) ........................................ 34-35
Dee/ofono v. GroIrion,
?63 I.2d 2?5 (CoIo. l988) .................................... 2?
1l-Iorro v. So,,eJ,
226 S.W.3d ?92 (Ark. 2006) ................................ 26
1np`/ Dit. v. Sni/l,
494 !.S. 8?2 (l990) ............................................. l?
1ppereon v. Ar/oneoe,
393 !.S. 9? (l968) ............................................... 2l
I.G. v. MocDonell,
696 A.2d 69? (.J. l99?) ..................................... 2?
Iouler v. IloJe 1elonJ,
345 !.S. 6? (l953) ......................................... l?, 2l
Ironco v. Clurcl of Jeeue Clrie/ of
Lo//er-Do, Soin/e,
2l I.3d l98 (!fnh 200l) ...................................... 2?
Goncolec v. Ionon Co/lolic ArclIielop,
280 !.S. l (l929) ................................................. l6
Hoeonno-ToIor 1tongelicol Lu/leron
Clurcl onJ Sclool v. 11OC,
l32 S. Cf. 694 (20l2) ................................... poeein
Hu/clieon v. Tlonoe,
?89 I.2d 392 (6fh CIr. l986) ............................... 2?
vIII

#*34" %( *.#1%)$#$"/:;<=>?=@AB

Ingo(s)
KeJroff v. S/. Aicloloe Co/leJrol of Iueeion
Or/loJox Clurcl in Aor/l Anerico,
344 !.S. 94 ........................................................... l?
Lenon v. Kur/cnon,
403 !.S. 602 (l9?l) ............................................. l9
McCor/l, v. Iuller,
?l4 I.3d 9?l (?fh CIr. 20l3) ............................... 36
McCollun v. BJ. of 1Juc.,
333 !.S. 203 (l948) ............................................. 20
Mioni HerolJ PuIlieling Co. v. Tornillo,
4l8 !.S. 24l (l9?4) ............................................ 34
Aoll, v. Groce Conn. Clurcl,
?63 I.2d 948 (CnI. l988) ..................................... 2?
ALIB v. Co/lolic Bielop,
440 !.S. 490 (l9?9) ............................................. 22
Poul v. Wo/cl/ouer BiIle & Troc/ Soc.
of Aeu Yor/, 1nc.,
8l9 I2d 8?5 (9fh CIr. l98?) ........................... 2?-28
Pielecl v. Moeeoeoi/ Gre,lounJ, 1nc.,
668 .I.2d l298 (Mnss. l996) ................. 26-2?, 29
Pleoeon/ GloJe AeeenIl, of GoJ v. ScluIer/,
264 S.W.3d l (Tox. 2008) ..................................... 28
PreeI,/erion Clurcl v. Mor, 1licoIe/l Blue Hull
Menoriol PreeI,/erion Clurcl,
393 !.S. 440 (l969) ........................... l5, l?, 20, 30
Ion-Dotè C/,. Koeler, 1nc. v. S/o/e,
608 A.2d l353 (.J. l992) ............................. 29, 30
Ix

#*34" %( *.#1%)$#$"/:;<=>?=@AB

Ingo(s)
SerIion 1oe/ern Or/loJox Dioceee v. Militojeticl,
426 !.S. 696 (l9?6) ..................................... poeein
Tlonoe v. Ietieu BJ. Of 1nJ. 1np`/ Sec. Dit.,
450 !.S. ?0? (l98l) .................................. l8-l9, 23
Ini/eJ S/o/ee v. BollorJ,
322 !.S. ?8 (l944) ............................................... 23
Von OeJol v. Vog/,
908 I.2d ll22 (CoIo. l996) .................................. 26
Wo/eon v. Jonee,
80 !.S. (l3 WnII.) 6?9 (l8?l) ...................... poeein
Wee/Iroo/ v. Penle,,
23l S.W.3d 389 (Tox. 200?) ................................. 28
/>C>@>AD E )@FAD
28 !.S.C. l25? .................................................... l, 34
28 !.S.C. 2403(b) ..................................................... l
!n. ChIId. Codo Ann. nrf. 603(l5) .............................. l
!n. ChIId. Codo Ann. nrf. 603(l?)(c) .......................... l
!n. ChIId. Codo Ann. nrf. 609 ..................................... l
!n. CIv. Codo Ann. nrf. 23l5 ...................................... l
!n. CIv. Codo Ann. nrf. 23l6 ...................................... l
!n. Codo CIv. Iro. Ann. nrf. 226 ................................ 2
!n. Codo IvId. Ann. nrf. 5ll ...................................... 2
S. Ct. R. 29 ............................................................................. 1

x

#*34" %( *.#1%)$#$"/:;<=>?=@AB

Ingo(s)
,C=<= 4CG !H<I?D?<=D
l983 Codo c.240 2 ..................................................... ?
l983 Codo c.960 .......................................................... 4
l983 Codo c.983 .......................................................... 6
l983 Codo c.l388 l ................................................... ?
%>JAH *@>J<H?>?AD
Tho Cnnons nnd ocroos of fho Sncrod UcumonIcnI
CouncII of Tronf (J. Wnforworfh frnns., l848),
hffs://hIsfory.hnnovor.odu/foxfs/fronf/
cfl4.hfmI. ............................................................... 4
CnfochIsm of fho CnfhoIIc Church f. l, 2,
hff://www.vnfIcnn.vn/nrchIvo/ccc_css/nrchIvo/c
nfochIsm/2s2c2n4.hfm ......................................... 4
CnfochIsm of fho CnfhoIIc Church l45?,
nfochIsm/2s2c2n4.hfm ......................................... 5
CnfochIsm of fho CnfhoIIc Church l458,
nfochIsm/2s2c2n4.hfm ......................................... 5
CnfochIsm of fho CnfhoIIc Church l46?,
nfochIsm/2s2c2n4.hfm ......................................... 6
nfochIsm/2s2c2n4.hfm ......................................... 4

xI

#*34" %( *.#1%)$#$"/:;<=>?=@AB

Ingo(s)
nfochIsm/2s2c2n4.hfm ..................................... 4, 5
CnfochIsm of fho CnfhoIIc Church l4?2,
nfochIsm/2s2c2n4.hfm ......................................... 5
nfochIsm/2s2c2n4.hfm ......................................... 4
nfochIsm/2s2c2n4.hfm ......................................... 5
CnfhoIIc HIornrchy, ISA. S/o/ie/ice B, Protince
(IrovInco of ow OrIonns), hff://www.cnfhoIIc-
hIornrchy.org/counfry/scus3.hfmI ..................... 3l
l WIIIInm Hognn, AurIcuInr ConfossIon nnd
IoIsh unnorIos (rov. od. l8?8) ........................ 24
Joln 20:22-23 (ow AmorIcnn IIbIo rov. od.
20ll)....................................................................... 4
Lu/e 24: 46-4? (ow AmorIcnn IIbIo rov. od.
20ll)....................................................................... 4
ModIovnI Sourcobook: TwoIffh IcumonIcnI CouncII:
!nfornn IV l2l5, hff://
www.fordhnm.odu/HnIsnII/bnsIs/Infornn4.ns ..... ?

xII

#*34" %( *.#1%)$#$"/:;<=>?=@AB

Ingo(s)
Ioo John InuI II, Ieconcilio/ion onJ Penonce 3l:5,
hff://www.vnfIcnn.vn/hoIy_fnfhor/john_nuI_II/n
osf_oxhorfnfIons/documonfs/hf_j-
II_oxh_02l2l984_roconcIIInfIo-of-
nonIfonfIn_on.hfmI .............................................. 5
S/. Joln Aeponucene, CnfhoIIc OnIIno,
hff://www.cnfhoIIc.org/snInfs/snInf.hsnInf
_Id=690 ................................................................... ?
S/. Mo/eo Correo Mogollonee, CnfhoIIc OnIIno,
_Id=5?0? ................................................................. 8
WIIIInm Snndors, Tle Seol of Confeeeion,
ArIIngfon CnfhoIIc HornId, Aug. 9, 200l,
hff://cnfhoIIchornId.com/sforIos/bTho-SonI-of-
ConfossIonb,4?l4confonf_sourco=&cnfogory_I
d=&sonrch_fIIfor=sonI+of+fho+confossIonnI&o
vonf_modo=&ovonf_fs_from=&IIsf_fyo=&ord
or_by=&ordor_sorf=&confonf_cInss=&sub_fy
o=sforIos,bIogs&fown_Id=. ................................. 6-?
2 Thomns SInfor, A MnnunI of MornI ThooIogy for
IngIIsh-SonkIng CounfrIos (5fh od. l925) ........ 6

l

IITITIO IO! A W!IT OI CI!TIO!A!I
_________________________

OIIIOS II!OW

Tho oInIon of fho !ouIsInnn Suromo Courf
(A., infro, ln-l0n) Is roorfod nf l35 So. 3d ll??
(20l4). Tho oInIon of fho courf of nonI (A.,
infro, lln-64n) Is roorfod nf l35 So. 3d ?24 (20l3).
Tho judgmonf of fho dIsfrIcf courf (A., infro, 65n-
66n) Is unroorfod.
J!!ISICTIO
Tho judgmonf of fho !ouIsInnn Suromo Courf
wns onforod on ArII 4, 20l4. IofIfIonors fImoIy fIIod
n ofIfIon for rohonrIng, whIch wns donIod on Mny 23,
20l4. A., infro, ?0n. ThIs Courf`s jurIsdIcfIon Is
Invokod undor 28 !.S.C. l25?. Iursunnf fo !uIo
29.4(c), ofIfIonors boIIovo 28 !.S.C. 2403(b) mny
nIy nnd wIII sorvo fho Affornoy ConornI of
!ouIsInnn wIfh n coy of fhIs ofIfIon.
COSTIT!TIOA! A STAT!TO!Y
I!OVISIOS IVO!VI
Tho IIrsf Amondmonf fo fho ConsfIfufIon of fho
!nIfod Sfnfos rovIdos, In orfInonf nrf, fhnf
Congross shnII mnko no Inw rosocfIng nn
osfnbIIshmonf of roIIgIon, or rohIbIfIng fho froo
oxorcIso fhoroof. Tho roIovnnf sfnfufory rovIsIons
nf fho fImo of fho docIsIons boIow woro !n. ChIId.
Codo Ann. nrfs. 603(l5), 609 (Su. 20l3), recoJifieJ
o/ !n. ChIId. Codo Ann. nrfs. 603(l?)(c), 609 (20l4);
!n. CIv. Codo Ann. nrfs. 23l5-23l6 (20l0), !n. Codo
2

IvId. Ann. nrf. 5ll (2006). AII nro roroducod In fho
nondIx fo fhIs ofIfIon. A., infro, ?8n-82n.
IT!O!CTIO
ThIs cnso concorns whofho Church or fho
sfnfogofs fo doformIno fho monnIng, confonf, nnd
roquIromonfs of fho CnfhoIIc Sncrnmonf of
!oconcIIInfIonono of fho Church`s mosf sncrod nnd
confrnI rncfIcos. !ndor fho !ouIsInnn Suromo
Courf`s ruIIng In fhIs cnso, ofIfIonors, fho Iocoso of
Infon !ougo nnd ono of Ifs rIosfs, Infhor InyhI,
mny fnco IInbIIIfynnd corfnInIy IIfIgnfIonfor
Infhor InyhI`s nIIogod fnIIuro fo dIscIoso fo sfnfo
nufhorIfIos InformnfIon Ionrnod from rosondonfs`
chIId durIng fho Sncrnmonf of !oconcIIInfIon
knowIodgo fhnf undor church Inw ho Is nbsoIufoIy
forbIddon fo shnro wIfh ofhors for on, reoeon undor
onnIfy of nufomnfIc oxcommunIcnfIon. Soo . 5-?,
infro. If fho fncffIndor, A., infro., 9n, rosumnbIy
n jury, doformInos fhnf fho chIId`s sfnfomonfs mndo
In confossIon nro nof confossIons per ee, iIiJ., nnd
fhoroby dIsngroos wIfh fho church`s doformInnfIon of
fhoIr confossIonnI chnrncfor, Infhor InyhI nnd fho
Church mny bo hoId IInbIo for vIoInfIon of n
mnndnfory roorfIng obIIgnfIon fhnf ofhorwIso wouId
nof nffnch fo fhom. Of courso, moroIy fo doformIno
whofhor fho communIcnfIons nro confossIons per ee,
fho fncffIndor musf fIrsf bronch fho snncfIfy nnd
confIdonfInIIfy of fho Sncrnmonf nnd Infhor InyhI
cnn bo snncfIonodovon sonf fo rIson, soo !n. Codo
CIv. Iro. Ann. nrf. 226 (20l4) for nof rovonIIng fho
confonf of fhoso communIcnfIons.
Tho sfnfo cnnnof mnko cIvII nnd ossIbIy crImInnI
IInbIIIfy furn on n jury`s vIow of whofhor
3

communIcnfIons n roIIgIon vIows ns confossIonnI nro
confossIon|nI] per ee. oIng so nIIows fho sfnfo fo
ovorrIdo fho roIIgIon`s own doformInnfIon of whnf Ifs
boIIofs nnd rncfIcos roquIro nnd dosfroys fho sncrod
sonI of confossIon In fho rocoss.
Tho docIsIon boIow sfnnds In sfnrk confrnsf fo
fhoso of ofhor courfs, who unIformIy hoId fhnf fho
IIrsf Amondmonf bnrs fho sfnfo from socond-
guossIng roIIgIons` doformInnfIons of whnf fhoIr own
boIIofs onfnII. If nIso vIoInfos coro froo oxorcIso nnd
osfnbIIshmonf rIncIIos onuncInfod by fhIs Courf In
Hoeonno-ToIor 1tongelicol Lu/leron Clurcl onJ
Sclool v. 11OC, l32 S. Cf. 694 (20l2), nnd onrIIor
cnsos.
Tho !ouIsInnn Suromo Courf`s docIsIon cnnnof
sfnnd. If confIIcfs wIfh Iong-sfnndIng nufhorIfy of
fhIs nnd ofhor courfs nnd fhronfons church
nufonomy. On romnnd, fho dIsfrIcf courf hns boon
nskod fo (l) vIoInfo fho confIdonfInIIfy of fho
Sncrnmonf of !oconcIIInfIon, (2) sorf fhrough nII fho
dIscussIon fhnf occurrod fhoro, (3) sonrnfo ouf whnf
wns confossIon|] per ee from whnf wns nof, nnd (4)
doformIno whofhor nII fhnf wns snId In fho Inffor
cnfogory shouId Imoso n roorfIng obIIgnfIon on fho
rIosf. Iurfhor rovIow Is wnrrnnfod.
STATIMIT
*7 Tho Sncrnmonf of !oconcIIInfIon
Tho Sncrnmonf of !oconcIIInfIon, nIso known ns
fho Sncrnmonf of Ionnnco or of ConfossIon, Is ono of
fho confrnI InsfIfufIonnI rncfIcos of !omnn
CnfhoIIcIsm, Insforn Orfhodox Churchos, nnd somo
ofhor ChrIsfInn roIIgIons. Affor fho Sncrnmonf of
4

InfIsm, whIch osfnbIIshos momborshI In fho
Church nnd nbsoIvos nII rovIous sIn, fho Sncrnmonf
of !oconcIIInfIon sfnnds ns fho socond Innk of
snIvnfIon. Tho Cnnons nnd ocroos of fho Sncrod nnd
UcumonIcnI CouncII of Tronf l0? (J. Wnforworfh
frnns., l848) (Soss. XIV, c.2), hffs://hIsfory.hnnovor.
odu/foxfs/fronf/cfl4.hfmI |horoInnffor Tronf Cnnons
nnd ocroos]. If romIfs nII sIn nffor InfIsm, soo iJ.
nf 93 (Soss. XIV, ch.l), nnd roconcIIos boIIovors wIfh
bofh fhoIr SnvIor nnd fho Church, CnfochIsm of fho
CnfhoIIc Church l468-l469,
hff://www.vnfIcnn.vn/nrchIvo/ccc_css/nrchIvo/cnfochI
sm/2s2c2n4.hfm |horoInnffor ChnfochIsm]. If Is fho
onIy ordInnry wny for fho fnIfhfuI fo roconcIIo
fhomsoIvos wIfh Cod nnd fho Church. l983 Codo
c.960; CnfochIsm l484.
CnfhoIIcs boIIovo fhnf ChrIsf InsfIfufod fho
Sncrnmonf on fIrsf rononrIng fo hIs dIscIIos nffor
hIs rosurrocfIon, soo Joln 20: 22-23 (ow AmorIcnn
IIbIo rov. od. 20ll) (|ChrIsf] bronfhod on fhom nnd
snId fo fhom '!ocoIvo fho hoIy SIrIf. Whoso sIns you
forgIvo nro forgIvon fhom, nnd whoso sIns you rofnIn
nro rofnInod.`), nnd fhnf hIs fInnI InjuncfIon fo fhom
boforo ho nscondod Info honvon wns fo srond fho
Sncrnmonf, soo Lu/e 24: 46-4? (ow AmorIcnn IIbIo
rov. od. 20ll) (And ho snId fo fhom, 'Thus If Is
wrIffon fhnf fho MossInh wouId suffor nnd rIso from
fho dond on fho fhIrd dny nnd fhnf roonfnnco, for
fho forgIvonoss of sIns, wouId bo ronchod In hIs
nnmo fo nII fho nnfIons, bogInnIng from JorusnIom.`).
IoIIof In fho Sncrnmonf, moroovor, Is ono of
fwoIvo coro boIIofs ovory CnfhoIIc ronffIrms nf Mnss
In rofossIng fnIfh fhrough fho AosfIos` Crood. Soo
5

CnfochIsm f. l, 2 (I boIIovo In * * * fho forgIvonoss
of sIns.). WIfhouf fho Sncrnmonf, n CnfhoIIc who
sIns grnvoIy nffor InfIsm Is IncnnbIo of ofornnI
IIfo nnd musf suffor fho 'ofornnI unIshmonf` of sIn.
1J. l4?2. Ivory CnfhoIIc of fho ngo of dIscrofIon,
moroovor, musf confoss sorIous sIns nf Ionsf onco n
yonr, iJ. l45?, nnd Is sfrongIy oncourngod fo confoss
bofh fhoso nnd ovorydny fnuIfs moro froquonfIy, iJ.
l458.
To n CnfhoIIc, fho sIrIfunI offocfs of fho
Sncrnmonf nro bIossod nnd mnnIfoId. Mosf
fundnmonfnIIy, fho Sncrnmonf roconcIIos fho onIfonf
wIfh Cod nnd nIIows fho onIfonf Cod`s grnco nnd
morcy fhrough fho forgIvonoss of sIn. CnfochIsm
l496. If nIso roconcIIos fho onIfonf wIfh fho
Church nnd fhoroby rosforos frnfornnI communIon
nnd rovIfnIIzos fho IIfo of fho Church IfsoIf. 1J.
l469. If roconcIIos fho onIfonf ns woII wIfh
hImsoIf In hIs Inmosf boIng|,] wIfh hIs brofhorn whom
ho hns In somo wny nffnckod nnd woundod|, nnd]
wIfh nII cronfIon. Ioo John InuI II, Ieconcilio/ion
onJ Penonce 3l:5, hff://www.vnfIcnn.vn/hoIy_fnfhor/
john_nuI_II/nosf_oxhorfnfIons/documonfs/hf_j-II_o
xh_02l2l984_roconcIIInfIo-of-nonIfonfIn_on.hfmI.
Tho Sncrnmonf nIso romIfs bofh fho ofornnI
unIshmonf Incurrod by morfnI sIn nnd nrf of fho
fomornI unIshmonfs rosuIfIng from nII sIn.
CnfochIsm l496. To fho onIfonf, If nIso rovIdos
onco nnd soronIfy of conscIonco|] nnd sIrIfunI
consoInfIon nnd sIrIfunI sfrongfh for fho ChrIsfInn
bnffIo wIfh sIn. 1IiJ.
Ono confrnI nnd nocossnry fonfuro of fho
Sncrnmonf Is fho sonI of fho confossIonnI. !ndor
6

fhIs docfrIno, If Is novor InwfuI undor nny
cIrcumsfnncos fo mnko known fho Ionsf fhIng fhnf
hns boon mnnIfosfod by n onIfonf In confossIon. 2
Thomns SInfor, A MnnunI of MornI ThooIogy for
IngIIsh-SonkIng CounfrIos l?3 (5fh od. l925). As
fho Church CnfochIsm doscrIbos If:
|I]vory rIosf who honrs confossIons Is bound
undor vory sovoro onnIfIos fo koo nbsoIufo
socrocy rognrdIng fho sIns fhnf hIs onIfonfs hnvo
confossod fo hIm. Ho cnn mnko no uso of
knowIodgo fhnf confossIon gIvos hIm nbouf
onIfonfs` IIvos. ThIs socrof, whIch ndmIfs of no
oxcofIons, Is cnIIod fho sncrnmonfnI sonI,
bocnuso whnf fho onIfonf hns mndo known fo fho
rIosf romnIns sonIod by fho sncrnmonf.
CnfochIsm l46?. !ndor cnnon Inw, |f]ho
sncrnmonfnI sonI Is InvIoInbIo. l983 Codo c.983.
A rIosf cnnnof bronk fho sonI no mnffor how
gronf fho onnIfy or how gronf n hnrm or InjusfIco
wouId ofhorwIso bo cnusod. As ono rIosf hns
doscrIbod fhIs sncrod obIIgnfIon, n rIosf
cnnnof bronk fho sonI fo snvo hIs own IIfo, fo
rofocf hIs good nnmo, fo rofufo n fnIso nccusnfIon,
fo snvo fho IIfo of nnofhor, fo nId fho courso of
jusfIco (IIko roorfIng n crImo) or fo nvorf n ubIIc
cnInmIfy. Ho cnnnof bo comoIIod by Inw fo
dIscIoso n orson`s confossIon or |ovon] bo bound
by nny onfh ho fnkos, o.g., ns n wIfnoss In n courf
frInI.
WIIIInm Snndors, Tle Seol of Confeeeion, ArIIngfon
CnfhoIIc HornId, Aug. 9, 200l,
hff://cnfhoIIchornId.com/sforIos/bTho-SonI-of-Confoss
?

Ionb,4?l4confonf_sourco=&cnfogory_Id=&sonrch_fIIf
or=sonI+of+fho+confossIonnI&ovonf_modo=&ovonf_fs
_from=&IIsf_fyo=&ordor_by=&ordor_sorf=&confonf
_cInss=&sub_fyo=sforIos,bIogs&fown_Id=. Ivon
whon If Is fo fho ndvnnfngo of fho Church or fo fho
onIfonf, cnnon Inw mnkos cIonr fhnf InformnfIon
dorIvod from confossIon mny nof bo dIvuIgod or usod.
Soo, o.g., l983 Codo c.240, 2 (Whon docIsIons nro
mndo nbouf ndmIffIng sfudonfs fo ordors or
dIsmIssIng fhom from fho somInnry, fho oInIon of
* * * confossors cnn novor bo soughf.).
So sfrIcf Is fhIs obIIgnfIon fhnf Church
unIshmonf Is sovoro. In l2l5, fho Iourfh !nfornn
CouncII docrood fhnf |h]o who dnros fo rovonI n sIn
confIdod fo hIm In fho frIbunnI of onnnco * * * bo nof
onIy doosod from fho sncordofnI offIco buf nIso
roIognfod fo n monnsfory of sfrIcf obsorvnnco fo do
onnnco for fho romnIndor of hIs IIfo. ModIovnI
Sourcobook: TwoIffh IcumonIcnI CouncII: !nfornn IV
l2l5, c.2l, hff://www.fordhnm.odu/HnIsnII/bnsIs/Info
rnn4.ns. And cnnon Inw fodny unIshos |n]
confossor who dIrocfIy vIoInfos fho sonI of confossIon
|wIfh] nufomnfIc oxcommunIcnfIon. l983 Codo
c.l388 l.
Tho Church, moroovor, coIobrnfos fho mnrfydom
of fhoso who dIod fo rosorvo fho sonI. If rocognIzos
Sf. John oomucono, for oxnmIo, ns fho fIrsf
mnrfyr of fho confossIonnI for hIs donfh by
drownIng for rofusIng fo rovonI whnf wns snId fo hIm
In confossIon. S/. Joln Aeponucene, CnfhoIIc OnIIno,
_Id=690 . And, moro roconfIy, fho church cnnonIzod
Sf. Mnfoo Corron MngnIInnos for hIs donfh by
8

shoofIng nf fho hnnds of fho mIIIfnry In l92? for
sImIInrIy rofusIng fo rovonI fho confonfs of
confossIons ho hnd honrd. S/. Mo/eo Correo
Mogollonee, CnfhoIIc OnIIno, hff://www.cnfhoIIc.org/
snInfs/snInf.hsnInf_Id=5?0?. Thoso snInfs nro
uhoId ns oxomInrs for fho fnIfhfuIrIosfs nnd
nrIshIonors nIIko.
37 IncfunI AIIognfIons
In 2009, rosondonfs, nronfs of n mInor
dnughfor, suod for dnmngos sufforod by fhom nnd
fhoIr dnughfor ns n rosuIf of nIIogod InnrorInfo
kIssIng nnd fouchIng of fhoIr chIId by n mombor of
fhoIr nrIsh nnmod Coorgo ChnrIof, Jr. A., infro,
2n. Thoy nnmod, nmong ofhors, ofIfIonors Infhor
M. Joffroy InyhI (fho rIosf) nnd fho !omnn CnfhoIIc
Church of fho Iocoso of Infon !ougo (fho Iocoso) ns
dofondnnfsInfhor InyhI, for nIIogodIy boIng n
mnndnfory roorfor who fnIIod fo roorf nbuso
nIIognfIons ho Ionrnod nbouf In confossIon nnd fho
Iocoso for nIIogodIy nogIIgonfIy frnInIng nnd
suorvIsIng fho rIosf nnd for vIcnrIous IInbIIIfy for
Infhor InyhI`s own nIIogod mIsconducf. 1IiJ.
Tho suIf nIIogod fhnf In 2008, whon fho dnughfor
wns nbouf l2 yonrs oId, Mr. ChnrIof bognn
oxchnngIng ono fo fwo omnIIs InvoIvIng 'words of
InsIrnfIon` nnd dnIIy IIbIo vorsos wIfh fho dnughfor
or dny. A., infro, l4n. Soon, fho suIf nIIogod, fho
omnIIs Incronsod In froquoncy fo fIvo fo sovon or dny
nnd bognn fnkIng on n moro orsonnI fono. 1IiJ.
Mr. ChnrIof nIIogodIy foId fho chIId fo koo fho
nnfuro of fhoIr omnII corrosondonco rIvnfo * * *
bocnuso 'no orson, ofhor fhnn Cod, wouId
undorsfnnd fhoIr mufunI fooIIngs for ono nnofhor.`
9

1IiJ. Tho suIf confnInod vnrIous ofhor nIIognfIons of
Mr. ChnrIof`s InnrorInfo bohnvIor, nono of whIch
fho Iowor courfs found roIovnnf fo fho cInIms mndo
ngnInsf ofIfIonors, iIiJ., cuImInnf|Ing] In fho
kIssIng nnd fondIIng of fho mInor chIId, iIiJ.
Tho suIf nIIogod fhnf fho chIId bocnmo confusod
nnd scnrod ovor fho ovoIvIng 'roInfIonshI` wIfh Mr.
ChnrIof|] nnd fhnf on fhroo sonrnfo occnsIons |fho
chIId] docIdod fo sook sIrIfunI guIdnnco fhrough fho
Sncrnmonf of !oconcIIInfIon wIfh |Infhor InyhI].
A., infro, l5n. If furfhor nIIogod fhnf fho chIId hnd
foId fho rIosf durIng hor confossIon * * * fhnf Mr.
ChnrIof hnd InnrorInfoIy fouchod hor, kIssod hor,
nnd foId hor fhnf 'ho wnnfod fo mnko Iovo fo hor.`
1IiJ. AccordIng fo fho suIf, fho rIosf nIIogodIy
rosondod fo hor fhnf sho sImIy noodod fo hnndIo
fho sIfunfIon horsoIf, bocnuso ofhorwIso|] foo mnny
ooIo wouId bo hurf. 1IiJ. AccordIng fo fho chIId,
durIng ono of fho confossIons, whon sho nskod fho
rIosf how sho couId ond fhIngs bofwoon horsoIf nnd
Mr. ChnrIof, |h]o jusf snId |']fhIs Is your robIom.
Swoo If undor fho fIoor nnd gof rId of If.` 1IiJ.
Tho suIf furfhor nIIogod fhnf Mr. ChnrIof
confInuod fo ncf InnrorInfoIy nffor fho confossIons.
A., infro, l5n-l6n. AccordIng fo fho suIf, fho rIosf
nnd fho gIrI`s nronfs IndoondonfIy mof wIfh Mr.
nnd Mrs. ChnrIof nnd, durIng hIs convorsnfIon wIfh
fhom, Infhor InyhI monfIonod concorn wIfh fho
soomIng InnrorInfo cIosonoss bofwoon fho fwo
fhnf hnd boon obsorvod by vnrIous nrIshIonors. 1J.
nf l6n.
A IIffIo Infor, fho suIf nIIogod, fho nronfs
confronfod fhoIr dnughfor nbouf hor roInfIonshI wIfh
l0

Mr. ChnrIof nnd sho ndmIffod Ifs fruo nnfuro|,]
IncIudIng dofnIIs of fho InnrorInfo soxunI
confncfs. A., infro, l6n-l?n. Tho nronfs fhon
confncfod Mr. ChnrIof nnd ordorod hIm fo conso
confncf wIfh fhoIr dnughfor. 1J. nf l?n. Whon fhoy
Infor snw Mr. ChnrIof hug fhoIr dnughfor ngnInsf hor
wIII nffor n church sorvIco, fhoy fIIod n formnI
comInInf ngnInsf hIm wIfh IocnI oIIco. 1IiJ.
AccordIng fo fho suIf, fho oIIco InvosfIgnfIon wns
ongoIng whon Mr. ChnrIof dIod of n honrf nffnck
boforo fho comInInf wns fIIod. 1IiJ.
C. IrocoodIngs IoIow
l. IofIfIonors fIIod n mofIon In IImIno, sookIng fo
oxcIudo from frInI nII ovIdonco nbouf fho confossIons.
A., infro., 4n. Thoy nrguod, nmong ofhor fhIngs,
fhnf nIIowIng fho fosfImony wouId rosonf|] vory
sorIous IIrsf Amondmonf Issuos In forms of forcIng
|Infhor InyhI] fo chooso bofwoon oxcommunIcnfIon
or sonkIng of |fho] mnffor. Tr. on Hr`g on Mof. In
!ImIno 3. AIfhough fho dIsfrIcf courf found fho Issuo
vory dIffIcuIf, A., infro, 6?n, If uIfImnfoIy donIod
fho mofIon, iJ. nf 66n. If hoId fhnf fho onIfonf
horsoIf couId wnIvo fho rIvIIogo nnd fosfIfy ns fo
whnf hnd boon snId In confossIon. 1J. nf 68n. If nIso
found fhnf ns offon hnons wIfh fho IogIsInfuro,
fhoy onncf nrfs of sfnfufos somofImos wIfhouf
rondIng fho ofhor nrfs, nnd |fhoy] cronfod n confIIcf.
1J. nf 6?n. As fho dIsfrIcf courf oxInInod, fho sfnfufo
cronfos n cIorgy-onIfonf rIvIIogo buf nIso snys fhnf
nofwIfhsfnndIng nny cInIm of rIvIIogod commun-
IcnfIon, nny mnndnfory roorfor who hns n cnuso fo
boIIovo fho chIId`s hysIcnI or monfnI honIfh or
woIfnro Is ondnngorod ns n rosuIf of nbuso or nogIocf
ll

shnII roorf |If]. 1IiJ. Tho dIsfrIcf courf nofod fhnf
fhIs obIIgnfIon nognfos fho rIvIIogo: To know
whofhor or nof |fho rIosf] hns n |mnndnfory] dufy,
* * * wo hnvo fo know whnf ho Ionrnod In fho
confossIon, nnd hIs InforrofnfIon of whnf ho
Ionrnod. 1J. nf 6?n-68n.
2. IofIfIonors soughf rovIow of fho ordor donyIng
fhoIr mofIon In IImIno. Tho !ouIsInnn courf of nonI
rovorsod fho dIsfrIcf courf`s judgmonf nnd sun sonfo
hoId fhnf no rIvnfo rIghf of ncfIon oxIsfs for vIoInfIng
fho mnndnfory roorfIng obIIgnfIon. A., infro, 3?n-
40n. As fo fho mofIon In IImIno, fho courf of nonI
hoId fhnf fho rocord cIonrIy osfnbIIshod fhnf fho
communIcnfIon wns hnd whIIo In confossIon |nnd
fhnf] fhoroforo If Is sfnfuforIIy dofInod fo bo n
confIdonfInI communIcnfIon, iJ. nf 33n, whIch n
'mombor of fho cIorgy` * * * ie no/ requireJ fo roorf,
iIiJ. Thoroforo, fho courf confInuod, If Is
nxIomnfIc fhnf fho rIosf, undor fhoso cIrcumsfnncos,
Is nof, nnd cnnnof bo, n mnndnfory roorfor.
AccordIngIy, !n. ChIId. Codo nrf. 609, whIch
nddrossos mnndnfory roorfors, nnd mnndnfos fho
roorfIng of nny chIId nbuso nnd nogIocf * * * Is
sImIy nnd whoIIy InnIIcnbIo. 1IiJ. Iocnuso * * *
fhoro cnn bo no rIvnfo or cIvII cnuso of ncfIon ngnInsf
hIm for nny bronch of sfnfufo InnIIcnbIo fo hIm|,]
nny ovIdonco or fosfImony, by nnyono, rognrdIng fho
occurronco of n confossIon, or fho subjocf mnffor
fhoroof, Is whoIIy InndmIssIbIo, IrroIovnnf, nnd non-
robnfIvo. 1J. nf 36n. If fhus rovorsod fho dIsfrIcf
courf`s donInI of fho mofIon In IImIno.
Tho courf of nonI wonf furfhor, howovor, fo hoId
fhnf eten if * * * fho rIosf |woro] n mnndnfory
l2

roorfor, fhoro Is no cIvII cnuso of ncfIon nnd no cIvII
romody for nny nIIogod vIoInfIon. A, infro, 39n.
Iocnuso |f]horo nro no cIvII romodIos rovIdod In fho
onfIro sfnfufory schomo |nnd] romody Is oxrossIy
doIognfod fo crImInnI Inw onforcomonf, iIiJ., fho
courf hoId, fhoro couId bo no cnuso of ncfIon ngnInsf
fho rIosf ovon for nny roorfnbIo InformnfIon fo
whIch ho mny hnvo boon rIvy oufsIdo of fho
confossIonnI, iJ. nf 40n.
Judgo Kuhn concurrod. To hIm, !ouIsInnn`s
sfnfufory oxomfIon of rIosfs from mnndnfory
roorfIng obIIgnfIons for InformnfIon Ionrnod In
confossIon wns |]romIsod on our nnfIon`s bIII of
rIghfs |nnd] ncknowIodgo|s] fhnf * * * |f]o subjocf n
CnfhoIIc rIosf fo such mnndnfory roorfIng wouId bo
cIonrIy vIoInfIvo of fho IIrsf Amondmonf of fho
!nIfod Sfnfos ConsfIfufIon. A., infro, 5?n.
3. !osondonfs fhon fIIod In !ouIsInnn Suromo
Courf for n wrIf nIIowIng dIscrofIonnry rovIow. Thoy
nskod fho courf fo rovIow bofh nrfs of fho judgmonf
of fho courf of nonI. IofIfIonors fIIod n
momornndum In oosIfIon, nrguIng fhnf rovIow
shouId bo donIod. WIfhouf hoIdIng nrgumonf or
roquIrIng subsoquonf brIofIng on fho morIfs, fho
!ouIsInnn Suromo Courf summnrIIy rovorsod fho
courf of nonI. A., infro, 9n.
Tho courf hoId fhnf fho mnndnfory dufy fo roorf
nbuso couId nffnch fo n rIosf for somo InformnfIon
Ionrnod In confossIon nnd fhnf !ouIsInnn`s
gonornI concof of IInbIIIfy * * * fhnf ovory ncf
whnfovor of mnn fhnf cnusos dnmngo fo nnofhor
obIIgos hIm by whoso fnuIf If hnonod fo ronIr If
l3

nnd ovory orson Is rosonsIbIo for fho dnmngo ho
occnsIons nof moroIy by hIs ncf, buf by hIs
nogIIgonco, hIs Imrudonco, or hIs wnnf of skIII,
A., infro, ?n (InfornnI quofnfIon mnrks nnd
cIfnfIons omIffod), cronfos nn ImIIod rIvnfo rIghf of
ncfIon for forf dnmngos for vIoInfIon of fho obIIgnfIon.
If furfhor hoId, howovor, fhnf |w]hofhor fhIs
nrfIcuInr rIosf owod fhIs nrfIcuInr dufy fo fho
InInfIffs In fhIs nrfIcuInr fncfunI confoxf Is n mIxod
quosfIon of Inw nnd fncf fhnf furns In nrf on
whofhor fho communIcnfIons bofwoon fho chIId nnd
fho rIosf woro confossIons per ee nnd whofhor fho
rIosf obfnInod knowIodgo oufsIdo fho confossIonnI
fhnf wouId frIggor hIs dufy fo roorf. A., infro,
8n-9n. JusfIco Hughos concurrod fo omhnsIzo fhnf
fho Issuo |wns] whofhor fho subjocf communIcnfIon
wns In fncf n 'confossIon.` 1J. nf l0n.
IofIfIonors fhon nskod fho !ouIsInnn Suromo
Courf fo rohonr fho cnso, nrguIng fhnf If cnnnof
romnnd fo fho frInI courf fo doformIno whofhor or nof
fho communIcnfIons In quosfIon woro 'confossIons per
ee` wIfhouf vIoInfIng fho IIrsf Amondmonf. AI.
Ior !ohonrIng SubmIffod Iy ofs. 8. Tho suromo
courf donIod rohonrIng wIfhouf oInIon. A., infro,
?0n. JusfIco CuIdry concurrod In fho donInI sfnfIng
fhnf |w]hofhor or nof fho communIcnfIon wns nrf of
n 'confossIon or so` ns fhnf form Is undorsfood In
roIIgIous docfrIno, mny bo nn occIosInsfIcnI robIom
for fho rIosf, buf If doos nof nonr fo bo roIovnnf
horo fo consIdornfIon of fho monnIng nnd Infonf of fho
!ouIsInnn sfnfufos InvoIvod In fhIs cnso. 1J. nf ?2n-
?3n. JusfIco VIcfory dIssonfod from fho donInI nnd
wouId hnvo grnnf|od] nnd dockof|od] fho cnso for fuII
l4

nrgumonf nnd brIofIng by fho nrfIos fo consIdor
whofhor fho roorfIng roquIromonf * * * ovorrIdos
nny rIvIIogo fhnf mny ofhorwIso bo cInImod by fho
rIosf. 1J. nf ?4n. Af fho vory Ionsf, ho nddod, I
wouId grnnf rohonrIng fo corrocf fho or curInm
whIch romnnds fho cnso fo fho frInI courf fo
doformIno whofhor fho communIcnfIons bofwoon fho
rIosf nnd fho mInor woro 'confossIons per ee.` 1IiJ.
!IASOS IO! C!ATIC THI IITITIO
I. Tho !ouIsInnn Suromo Courf`s HoIdIng VIoInfos
Tho IIrsf Amondmonf Iy AIIowIng Sfnfos To
OvorrIdo A !oIIgIon`s VIow Of Whnf Ifs Own InIfh
Monns And !oquIros
In Hoeonno-ToIor 1tongelicol Lu/leron Clurcl
AnJ Sclool v. 11OC, l32 S. Cf. 694, ?02 (20l2), fhIs
Courf ronffIrmod Ifs Iong IIno of hoIdIngs fhnf |b]ofh
|fho IsfnbIIshmonf nnd Iroo IxorcIso] CInusos bnr
fho govornmonf from InforforIng wIfh fho docIsIon of
n roIIgIous grou ovor corfnIn coro mnffors. As
onrIy ns l8?l, fho Courf oInfod ouf, If hnd
oxInInod fhnf 'whonovor fho quosfIons of dIscIIIno,
or of fnIfh, or occIosInsfIcnI ruIo, cusfom, or Inw hnvo
boon docIdod by fho hIghosf of |fho] church
judIcnforIos fo whIch fho mnffor hns boon cnrrIod, fho
IognI frIbunnIs musf nccof such docIsIons ns fInnI,
nnd ns bIndIng on fhom.` 1J. nf ?04 (quofIng Wo/eon
v. Jonee, 80 !.S. (l3 WnII.) 6?9, ?2? (l8?l)). If Is of
fho ossonco of * * * roIIgIous unIons, fho Wo/eon
Courf nofod, fhnf fhoso docIsIons shouId bo bIndIng
In nII cnsos of occIosInsfIcnI cognIznnco. Wo/eon, 80
!.S. nf ?29. So doo rnn fhIs rIncIIo, In fncf, fhnf
fho Sfnfos foIIowod If ns n mnffor of common Inw ovon
boforo fho IIrsf Amondmonf wns Incorornfod by fho
l5

Iourfoonfh. Soo iJ. nf ?30-?32 (dIscussIng sfnfo
common Inw cnsos).
ThIs Courf hns consIsfonfIy nnd roonfodIy hoId
fhnf courfs (l) cnnnof doformIno roIIgIous quosfIons,
(2) musf rosocf roIIgIons` own vIows of whnf fhoIr
fnIfh monns nnd roquIros, (3) cnnnof rovIow fhoso
church doformInnfIons for subsfnnfIvo or rocodurnI
vnIIdIfy undor church Inw nnd (4) musf nccof nn
IndIvIdunI`s own vIow of whnf hor roIIgIon roquIros
ovon whon fho bnsIs of fhnf boIIof Is uncIonr or
unsoffIod. In PreeI,/erion Clurcl v. Mor, 1licoIe/l
Blue Hull Menoriol PreeI,/erion Clurcl, 393 !.S.
440, 445-446 (l969), for oxnmIo, fhIs Courf sfnfod
fhnf sInco Wo/eon If |hns boon] whoIIy InconsIsfonf
wIfh fho AmorIcnn concof of fho roInfIonshI
bofwoon church nnd sfnfo fo ormIf cIvII courfs fo
doformIno occIosInsfIcnI quosfIons. Th|Is] IogIc, If
hoId, Ionvos fho cIvII courfs no roIo In doformInIng
occIosInsfIcnI quosfIons. 1J. nf 44? (omhnsIs
nddod). To ronch fhoso quosfIons, If nofod, wouId
roquIro fho cIvII courfs fo ongngo In fho forbIddon
rocoss of InforrofIng nnd woIghIng church
docfrIno. 1J. nf 45l.
Tho coroIInry foIIows fhnf courfs musf rosocf n
roIIgIon`s own vIow of whnf Ifs fnIfh monns nnd
roquIros. In SerIion 1oe/ern Or/loJox Dioceee v.
Militojeticl, 426 !.S. 696 (l9?6), fhIs Courf rovorsod
nn IIIInoIs Suromo Courf docIsIon fhnf n bIsho`s
dofrockIng nnd n dIocosnn roorgnnIznfIon woro
Imroor undor church Inw. If dId so bocnuso cIvII
courfs nro bound fo nccof fho docIsIons |of church
nufhorIfIos] on mnffors of dIscIIIno, fnIfh, InfornnI
orgnnIznfIon, |nnd] occIosInsfIcnI ruIo, cusfom or Inw.
l6

1J. nf ?l3. |!]oIIgIous confrovorsIos nro nof fho
roor subjocf of cIvII courf InquIry|] nnd * * * n cIvII
courf musf nccof fho occIosInsfIcnI docIsIons of |n]
church * * * ns If fInds fhom. 1IiJ. Ior fho
Suromo Courf of IIIInoIs |fo] subsfIfufo|] Ifs
InforrofnfIon of fho |church`s] consfIfufIons for fhnf
of fho |church IfsoIf Is whnf] fho IIrsf nnd Iourfoonfh
Amondmonfs forbId. 1J. nf ?2l. As fhIs Courf nofod
In Hoeonno-ToIor, l32 S. Cf. nf ?04, fhIs InjuncfIon,
fIows cIonrIy from Wo/eon`s onrIy undorsfnndIng fhnf
whonovor fho quosfIons of dIscIIIno, or of fnIfh, or
occIosInsfIcnI ruIo, cusfom, or Inw hnvo boon docIdod
by fho |church] fho IognI frIbunnIs musf nccof such
docIsIons ns fInnI, nnd ns bIndIng on fhom, 80 !.S. nf
?2?.
ThIs Courf hns hoId fhnf fho IIrsf Amondmonf
roquIros Iowor courfs fo dofor fo n church`s vIow of Ifs
own docfrIno In nII nrons of church ncfIvIfy. Mosf
roconfIy, In Hoeonno-ToIor, If hoId fhnf cIvII courfs
couId nof rovIow n church`s docIsIon fo fIro n mInIsfor
bocnuso such nn InquIry wouId ovorrIdo church
doformInnfIons of who roorIy cnn orsonIfy Ifs
boIIofs nnd rorosonf govornmonf InvoIvomonf In
* * * occIosInsfIcnI docIsIons. l32 S. Cf. nf ?06. If
hns nIso consIsfonfIy nIIod fho ruIo In cnsos
InvoIvIng church noInfmonfs, soo Goncolec v.
Ionon Co/lolic ArclIielop, 280 !.S. l, l6 (l929)
(hoIdIng fhnf courfs couId nof docIdo who dosorvod
chnInIncy |b]ocnuso fho noInfmonf Is n cnnonIcnI
ncf |nnd] If Is fho funcfIon of fho church nufhorIfIos fo
doformIno whnf fho ossonfInI qunIIfIcnfIons of n
chnInIn nro nnd whofhor fho cnndIdnfo ossossos
fhom.), dofrockIngs, soo Militojeticl, 426 !.S. nf ?l3
(hoIdIng fhnf n courf musf nccof * * * occIosInsfIcnI
l?

docIsIons |ovor dofrockIngs nnd dIocosnn
roorgnnIznfIons] ns If fInds fhom), InsfIfufIonnI
rosfrucfurIngs, soo iIiJ., roorfy dIsufos, soo
PreeI,/erion Clurcl, 393 !.S. nf 449 (hoIdIng fhnf
courfs |musf] docIdo church roorfy dIsufos
wIfhouf rosoIvIng undorIyIng confrovorsIos ovor
roIIgIous docfrIno); KeJroff v. S/. Aicloloe Co/leJrol
of Iueeion Or/loJox Clurcl in Aor/l Anerico, 344
!.S. 94; Wo/eon, 80 !.S. 6?9, church rncfIcos, soo
Iouler v. IloJe 1elonJ, 345 !.S. 6?, ?0 (l953) (|I]f Is
no busInoss of courfs fo sny fhnf whnf Is n roIIgIous
rncfIco or ncfIvIfy for ono grou Is nof roIIgIon undor
fho rofocfIon of fho IIrsf Amondmonf.), nnd church
momborshI, soo BoulJin v. AlexonJer, 82 !.S. l3l,
l39-l40 (l8?2) ((|W]o cnnnof docIdo who oughf fo bo
mombors of fho church, nor whofhor fho
oxcommunIcnfod hnvo boon roguInrIy or IrroguInrIy
cuf off. Wo musf fnko fho fncf of oxcommunIcnfIon ns
concIusIvo roof fhnf fho orsons oxscIndod nro nof
mombors.). And fhIs Courf hns |r]oonfodIy nnd In
mnny dIfforonf confoxfs hoId fhnf |I]f Is nof wIfhIn
fho judIcInI kon fo quosfIon fho confrnIIfy of
nrfIcuInr boIIofs or rncfIcos fo n fnIfh, or fho
vnIIdIfy of nrfIcuInr IIfIgnnfs` InforrofnfIons of
fhoso croods |nnd] fhnf courfs musf nof rosumo fo
doformIno fho Inco of n nrfIcuInr boIIof In n roIIgIon
or fho InusIbIIIfy of n roIIgIous cInIm. 1np`/ Dit. v.
Sni/l, 494 !.S. 8?2, 88? (l990).
Jusf ns n courf musf rosocf n roIIgIon`s own
vIow nbouf whnf Ifs docfrIno monns, If cnnnof rovIow
fhoso docIsIons` vnIIdIfy undor church Inw. In
Militojeticl, fhIs Courf ovorfurnod nn IIIInoIs
Suromo Courf docIsIon fhnf n bIsho`s dofrockIng
nnd nn onsuIng dIocosnn roorgnnIznfIon dId nof
l8

comI|y] wIfh church Inw nnd roguInfIons. 426 !.S.
nf ?l3. |A]nnIyz|Ing] whofhor fho occIosInsfIcnI
ncfIons of n church * * * nro In fhnf sonso 'nrbIfrnry,`
If hoId,
musf InhoronfIy onfnII InquIry Info fho rocoduros
fhnf cnnon or occIosInsfIcnI Inw suosodIy
roquIros * * * or oIso Info fho subsfnnfIvo crIforIn
by whIch fho| church Is] suosodIy fo docIdo fho
occIosInsfIcnI quosfIon. Iuf fhIs Is oxncfIy fho
InquIry fhnf fho IIrsf Amondmonf rohIbIfs;
rocognIfIon of such nn oxcofIon wouId undormIno
fho gonornI ruIo fhnf roIIgIous confrovorsIos nro
nof fho roor subjocf of cIvII courf InquIry, nnd
fhnf n cIvII courf musf nccof fho occIosInsfIcnI
docIsIons of church|os] ns If fInds fhom.
1IiJ. Courfs` rovIowIng such n docIsIon, jusf IIko
fhoIr mnkIng If, ovorrIdos fho church`s own
doformInnfIon of whnf Ifs boIIofs roquIro.
Tho IIrsf Amondmonf, In fncf, so sfrongIy rofocfs
fho nufonomy of roIIgIous docIsIon-mnkIng fhnf n
courf musf nccof nn IndIvIdunI church mombor`s
vIow of whnf church boIIof roquIros so Iong ns hIs
boIIof rofIocfs 'nn honosf convIcfIon.` Buruell v.
HoII, LoII, S/oree, 1nc., l34 S. Cf. 2?5l, 2??9 (20l4)
(quofIng Tlonoe v. Ietieu BJ. Of 1nJ. 1np`/ Sec.
Dit., 450 !.S. ?0?, ?l6 (l98l)). Iocnuso |c]ourfs nro
nof nrbIfors of scrIfurnI InforrofnfIon fhoy cnnnof
dIssocf roIIgIous boIIofs bocnuso fho boIIovor ndmIfs
fhnf ho Is 'sfruggIIng` wIfh hIs osIfIon or bocnuso hIs
boIIofs nro nof nrfIcuInfod wIfh fho cInrIfy nnd
rocIsIon fhnf n moro sohIsfIcnfod orson mIghf
omIoy or rosoIvo |InfrnfnIfh] dIfforoncos In roInfIon
fo fho !oIIgIon CInusos. Tlonoe, 450 !.S. nf ?l5-
l9

?l6. If fho boIIovor dr|nws] n IIno, * * * If Is nof for
|fho courfs] fo sny fhnf fho IIno ho dr|nws Is] nn
unronsonnbIo ono. 1J. nf ?l5.
ThIs Courf hns rocognIzod fhnf fhoso ruIos sorvo
sovornI foundnfIonnI consfIfufIonnI urosos. Ior
sfnrfors, courfs hnvo IIffIo comofonco fo docIdo
roIIgIous quosfIons. In Wo/eon, for oxnmIo, fhIs
Courf nofod fhnf churchos hnvo
n body of consfIfufIonnI nnd occIosInsfIcnI Inw of
|fhoIr] own, fo bo found In fhoIr wrIffon orgnnIc
Inws, fhoIr books of dIscIIIno, In fhoIr coIIocfIons
of rocodonfs, In fhoIr usngo nnd cusfoms, whIch
ns fo onch consfIfufo n sysfom of occIosInsfIcnI Inw
nnd roIIgIous fnIfh fhnf fnsks fho nbIosf mInds fo
bocomo fnmIIInr wIfh. If Is nof fo bo suosod
fhnf fho judgos of fho cIvII courfs cnn bo ns
comofonf In fho occIosInsfIcnI Inw nnd roIIgIous
fnIfh of nII fhoso bodIos ns fho nbIosf mon In onch
nro In roforonco fo fhoIr own. If wouId fhoroforo
bo nn nonI from fho moro Ionrnod frIbunnI In
fho Inw whIch shouId docIdo fho cnso, fo ono whIch
Is Ioss so.
80 !.S. nf ?29. Such quosfIons rorosonf n roIIgIous
fhIckof, Militojeticl, 426 !.S. nf ?l9, Info whIch
cIvII courfs shouId fonr fo frond.
Socond, courfs cnnnof nnswor roIIgIous quosfIons
wIfhouf oxcossIvoIy onfnngIIng church nnd sfnfo. Soo
Lenon v. Kur/cnon, 403 !.S. 602, 6l9 (l9?l)
(hoIdIng fhnf comrohonsIvo, dIscrImInnfIng, nnd
confInuIng sfnfo survoIIInnco |wouId] InvoIvo
oxcossIvo nnd ondurIng onfnngIomonf bofwoon sfnfo
20

nnd church). ThIs fonr rosfs on fwo sonrnfo buf
mufunIIy roInforcIng concorns: fhnf
|w]hon fho sfnfo bocomos onmoshod wIfh n gIvon
donomInnfIon In mnffors of roIIgIous sIgnIfIcnnco,
fho froodom of roIIgIous boIIof of fhoso who nro nof
ndhoronfs of fhnf donomInnfIon suffors |nnd] fho
froodom of ovon fho ndhoronfs of fho
donomInnfIon Is IImIfod by fho govornmonfnI
InfrusIon Info sncrod mnffors.
Aguilor v. Iel/on, 4?3 !.S. 402, 409-4l0 (l985),
oterruleJ on o/ler grounJe I, Agoe/ini v. Iel/on, 52l
!.S. 203 (l99?). |T]ho IIrsf Amondmonf rosfs uon
fho romIso fhnf bofh roIIgIon nnd govornmonf cnn
bosf work fo nchIovo fhoIr Ioffy nIms If onch Is Ioff
froo from fho ofhor wIfhIn Ifs rosocfIvo shoro.
McCollun v. BJ. of 1Juc., 333 !.S. 203, 2l2 (l948).
ThIrd, courf doformInnfIon of roIIgIous quosfIons
ImnIrs fho fnIfh nnd mIssIon of fho church,
Hoeonno-ToIor, l32 S. Cf. nf ?0?; soo nIso iJ. nf ?06,
whIch fhIs Courf hns doscrIbod ns fho vory coro of
* * * roIIgIon, PreeI,/erion Clurcl, 393 !.S. nf 450.
If courfs undorfnko such InquIrIos, fho hnznrds nro
ovor rosonf of InhIbIfIng fho froo dovoIomonf of
roIIgIous docfrIno nnd of ImIIcnfIng socuInr Inforosfs
In mnffors of uroIy occIosInsfIcnI concorn. 1J. nf
449. Moro uncorfnInfy nbouf whofhor Ifs |own
undorsfnndIngs of whnf Ifs fnIfh roquIros] wIII bo
rojocfod, nnd n corrosondIng fonr of IInbIIIfy, mny
cnuso n roIIgIous grou fo conform Ifs boIIofs nnd
rncfIcos * * * fo fho rovnIIIng socuInr
undorsfnndIng. Hoeonno-ToIor, l32 S. Cf. nf ?ll
(Thomns, J., concurrIng). As fhIs Courf rocognIzod In
2l

Corporo/ion of PreeiJing Bielop of Clurcl of Lo//er-
Do, Soin/e v. Anoe,
If Is n sIgnIfIcnnf burdon on n roIIgIous
orgnnIznfIon fo roquIro If, on nIn of subsfnnfInI
IInbIIIfy, fo rodIcf whIch of Ifs ncfIvIfIos n socuInr
courf wIII consIdor roIIgIous. Tho IIno Is hnrdIy n
brIghf ono, nnd nn orgnnIznfIon mIghf
undorsfnndnbIy bo concornod fhnf n judgo wouId
nof undorsfnnd Ifs roIIgIous fonofs nnd sonso of
mIssIon. Ionr of ofonfInI IInbIIIfy mIghf nffocf
fho wny nn orgnnIznfIon cnrrIod ouf whnf If
undorsfood fo bo Ifs roIIgIous mIssIon.
483 !.S. 32?, 336 (l98?).
Iourfh, nIIowIng fhIs fyo of courf InquIry cnn
Iond fo dIscrImInnfIon ngnInsf mInorIfy nnd
unouInr roIIgIons, fhoroby vIoInfIng fho IIrsf
Amondmonf`s commnnd fhnf govornmonf musf bo
noufrnI In mnffors of roIIgIous fhoory, docfrIno, nnd
rncfIco nnd mny nof nId, fosfor, or romofo ono
roIIgIon or roIIgIous fhoory ngnInsf nnofhor.
1ppereon v. Ar/oneoe, 393 !.S. 9?, l03-l04 (l968);
soo Iouler v. IloJe 1elonJ, 345 !.S. 6?, ?0 (hoIdIng
fhnf sfnfo couId nof sny fhnf sorvIcos woro roIIgIous
nnd sormons woro nof wIfhouf roforrIng ono
roIIgIon ovor nnofhor nnd onnIIzIng nn unouInr
grou for orformIng fho snmo funcfIon ns do
mnInsfronm roIIgIons). JudIcInI nffomfs fo fnshIon
* * * cIvII dofInIfIon|s of roIIgIous forms] rIsk
dIsndvnnfngIng fhoso roIIgIous grous whoso boIIofs,
rncfIcos, nnd momborshI nro oufsIdo of fho
'mnInsfronm` or unnInfnbIo fo somo. Hoeonno-
ToIor, l32 S. Cf. nf ?ll (Thomns, J., concurrIng).
22

IInnIIy, ns fhIs Courf hns hoId, |I]f Is nof onIy fho
concIusIons fhnf mny bo ronchod * * * whIch mny
ImIngo on rIghfs gunrnnfood by fho !oIIgIon
CInusos, buf nIso fho vory rocoss of InquIry IondIng
fo fIndIngs nnd concIusIons. ALIB v. Co/lolic
Bielop, 440 !.S. 490, 502 (l9?9). Indood, fho rocoss
of InquIry cnn Injuro roIIgIous nufonomy ns much ns
fho concIusIons ronchod. As JusfIcos AIIfo nnd Kngnn
rocognIzod In Hoeonno-ToIor In rojocfIng fho
govornmonf`s suggosfod rofoxf InquIry,
whnfovor fho frufh of fho mnffor mIghf bo, fho
moro ndjudIcnfIon of such quosfIons wouId oso
grnvo robIoms for roIIgIous nufonomy: If wouId
roquIro cnIIIng wIfnossos fo fosfIfy nbouf fho
Imorfnnco nnd rIorIfy of fho roIIgIous docfrIno
In quosfIon, wIfh n cIvII fncffIndor sIffIng In
uIfImnfo judgmonf of whnf fho nccusod church
ronIIy boIIovos, nnd how Imorfnnf fhnf boIIof Is fo
fho church's ovornII mIssIon.
l32 S. Cf. nf ?l5 (AIIfo, J., concurrIng).
Iocnuso fho rosonf cnso fIfs squnroIy wIfhIn fho
IIrsf Amondmonf`s Iong-sfnndIng commnnd fhnf
courfs dofor fo n church`s vIow of whnf Ifs fnIfh monns
nnd roquIros onJ ImIIcnfos nII fho Imorfnnf
consfIfufIonnI urosos fhnf ruIo sorvos, fho hoIdIng
of fho !ouIsInnn Suromo Courf musf bo rovorsod.
IIrsf, If Is cIonr fhnf In doformInIng whofhor
sfnfomonfs mndo In confossIon nro confossIon|nI] per
ee fho fncf-fIndor musf docIdo whnf sfnfomonfs
Inhoro InfrInsIcnIIy or InsfrumonfnIIy In fho CnfhoIIc
sncrnmonf nnd whIch do nofn quInfossonfInIIy
roIIgIous quosfIonnnd If cnn ovorrIdo fho Church`s
own vIows ns oxrossod by Infhor InyhI, fho rIosf
23

who fook fho confossIon, nnd Infhor Counco, fho
JudIcInI VIcnr nnd cnnon Inwyor for fho dIocoso, soo
ofs. Mof. Sum. J. Ix. A (Aff. Of Infhor InuI .
Counco) (oxInInIng fho nbsoIufo roquIromonf In
CnfhoIIc Inw fhnf n rIosf novor rovonI nnyfhIng ho
honrs durIng n orson`s confossIon nnd nofIng fhnf
|I]n rncfIco, If Is nof jusf fho sIns confossod fhnf nro
fho mnffor of fho sonI| buf nIso fhnf] fho rIosf Is nof
ormIffod fo rovonI nnyfhIng dIscussod In fho
confossIon). ThoIr sfnfomonfs nro nufhorIfnfIvo ns fo
whnf CnfhoIIc fnIfh hoIds nnd corfnInIy rofIocf moro
fhnn fho honosf convIcfIon, HoII, LoII, S/oree, l34
S. Cf. nf 2??9 (quofIng Tlonoe, 450 !.S. nf ?l6)
nbouf whnf CnfhoIIc fnIfh onfnIIs fhnf fho IIrsf
Amondmonf roquIros courfs fo rosocf.
Socond, fho fncf-fIndor, nrfIcuInrIy n Iny jury,
wouId hnvo IIffIo comofonco fo nnswor fhoso
quosfIons. Thoy wouId hnvo fo bnso fhoIr judgmonfs
on fho vIows of whnf oxorfs fosfIfy CnfhoIIc Inw
commnnds nnd ovnIunfo IndIvIdunI confossIonnI
sfnfomonfs nccordIngIy. ThIs Is oxncfIy fho roIIgIous
fhIckof, Militojeticl, 426 !.S. nf ?l9, nnd forbIddon
domnIn, Ini/eJ S/o/ee v. BollorJ, 322 !.S. ?8, 8?
(l944), Info whIch fho IIrsf Amondmonf donIos fho
sfnfo onfry.
ThIrd, such InquIry wouId cronfo oxcossIvo
onfnngIomonf bofwoon church nnd sfnfo. If wouId
nIIow fho sfnfo fo rovIow nnd sof nsIdo
doformInnfIons nf fho honrf of fnIfhwhnf n sncrod
sncrnmonf monns nnd roquIrosnnd If wouId Inco
fho sfnfo In fho confossIonnI. Iy IvofIng cIvII
IInbIIIfy on fho fncf-fIndor`s doformInnfIon of whnf Is
confossIon|nI] per ee, bofh fho confossor nnd fho
24

onIfonf wIII undorsfnnd fhnf fho sfnfo Is ofonfInIIy
n nrfIcInnf nnd obsorvor In fho Sncrnmonf of
!oconcIIInfIon IfsoIf.
Iourfh, judIcInI socond-guossIng of whnf Is fruIy
confossIonnI mny oncourngo churchos fo frIm fhoIr
boIIofs nnd rncfIcos concornIng confossIon fo fho
sfnfo`s judgmonfs In ordor fo nvoId ofonfInI IInbIIIfy.
If fho sfnfo onnIIzos somo nsocfs of confossIon,
oconomIc rossuro wIII grow for fho church fo modIfy
Ifs undorsfnndIng of whnf fho sncrnmonf monns nnd
roquIros.
IIffh, ImosIng courfs` vIows ns fo whnf Is fruIy
confossIonnI on churchos wIII dIscrImInnfo ngnInsf
fhoso fnIfhs whoso confossIonnI rncfIcos cuf ngnInsf
mnInsfronm cusfom nnd oInIon. Thoso churchos`
confossIonnI rncfIcos nro moro IIkoIy fo bo soon ns
odd, nrchnIc, or dnngorous. In fncf, CnfhoIIc
confossIon wns Iong vIowod wIfh doo susIcIon by
somo ofhor socfs nnd ns oIIfIcnIIy subvorsIvo by
somo govornmonfs. Soo l WIIIInm Hognn, AurIcuInr
ConfossIon nnd IoIsh unnorIos l2 (rov. od. l8?8)
(nrguIng fhnf In fho ConfossIonnI * * * nIono do
!omIsh rIosfs fonch nnd fnsfon uon fho mInd of
fhoIr onIfonfs nII fho InIquIfIos whIch fho Church of
!omo snncfIons); iJ. nf l5 (nrguIng fhnf ovory crImo
whIch fho !omIsh church snncfIons, nnd nImosf nII
fho ImmornIIfIos of Ifs mombors, oIfhor orIgInnfo In
AurIcuInr ConfossIon or hnvo somo connocfIon wIfh
If); iJ. nf l80 (wnrnIng AmorIcnns fhnf your IIborfy
Is fhronfonod by !omIsh rIosfs IncuIcnfIng fronson
In fhoIr confossIonnIs u fo your vory bonrds).
IInnIIy, fho rocoss of InquIry fho !ouIsInnn
Suromo Courf hns ordorod vIoInfos n coro fonof of
25

CnfhoIIcIsmono whIch rIosfs hnvo dIod fo rofocf,
soo . ?-8, eupro. In ordor fo doformIno whIch
communIcnfIons mndo durIng confossIon woro
confossIon|nI] per ee nnd whIch woro nof, fho fncf-
fIndor musf know whnf fhoso communIcnfIons woro
nnd whnf fhoy concornod. A., infro, 6?n (nofIng
fhnf In ordor fo know whofhor or nof |Infhor InyhI]
hns n dufy * * * |fho courf musf] know whnf ho
Ionrnod In fho confossIon, nnd hIs InforrofnfIon of
whnf ho Ionrnod). In ofhor words, fho courf musf
bronk fho sncrod sonI of fho confossIon by domnndIng
Infhor InyhI fosfIfy nbouf whnf wns snId, n sIn so
sorIous fhnf ho wouId bo nufomnfIcnIIy
oxcommunIcnfod. Tho moro rocoss of mnkIng fho
doformInnfIon fhus nof onIy ofonfInIIy ovorrIdos
church judgmonf of whnf Is confossIonnI nnd
rofocfod buf nocossnrIIy dosfroys fho snncfIfy of fho
sncrnmonfovon If fho fncf-fIndor uIfImnfoIy ngroos
wIfh fho Church`s judgmonf fhnf nII fho
communIcnfIons nro rofocfod ns confossIonnI per ee
nnd cnnnof gIvo rIso fo nny mnndnfory roorfIng
obIIgnfIon.
II. In !ojocfIng Tho IIrsf Amondmonf`s !oIIgIous
QuosfIon ocfrIno, Tho !ouIsInnn Suromo Courf
Cronfod A ConfIIcf WIfh AII IodornI Courfs of
AonIs And AII Ofhor Sfnfo Suromo Courfs
Thnf Hnvo ConsIdorod If And A Irocf ConfIIcf In
Ifs AIIcnfIon WIfh Tho Socond And Iourfh
CIrcuIfs And Tho ow Jorsoy And Mnssnchusoffs
Suromo Courfs
Iocnuso of fhIs Courf`s IongsfnndIng nnd
consIsfonf nIIcnfIon of fho roIIgIous quosfIon
docfrIno, no fodornI courf of nonIs or sfnfo suromo
26

courf ofhor fhnn !ouIsInnn`s rojocfs If. AIfhough
ofIfIonors know of no ofhor jurIsdIcfIons fhnf hnvo
ndofod fho nrfIcuInr sfnndnrd nf Issuo horo
confossIon|] per eennd omoworod jurIos fo
doformIno fho roIIgIous chnrncfor of confossIonnI
sfnfomonfs, fhoso ofhor courfs hnvo consIsfonfIy
nIIod fho docfrIno In n wIdo vnrIofy of confoxfs fo
rofocf roIIgIous boIIof nnd rncfIco from dosfrucfIvo
sfnfo InquIry Info fhoIr monnIng nnd roquIromonfs.
In Hoeonno-ToIor, In fncf, fhIs Courf nofod fhnf
nIfhough If hnd novor consIdorod fho quosfIon of
whofhor fho docfrIno Is ImIIcnfod by n suIf nIIogIng
dIscrImInnfIon In omIoymonf, * * * fho Courfs of
AonIs hnvo unIformIy rocognIzod fho oxIsfonco of n
'mInIsforInI oxcofIon` groundod In fho IIrsf
Amondmonf, fhnf rocIudos nIIcnfIon of such
IogIsInfIon fo cInIms concornIng fho omIoymonf
roInfIonshI bofwoon n roIIgIous InsfIfufIon nnd Ifs
mInIsfors. l32 S. Cf. nf ?05. Indood, fho Iowor
courfs rocognIzo fhnf fho rIncIIo of fho mInIsforInI
oxcofIon nIIos brondIy fo rocIudo mnny fyos of
omIoymonf suIfs, soo, o.g., Alcocor v. Corp. of /le
Co/lolic ArclIielop, 62? I.3d l288 (9fh CIr. 20l0)
(on bnnc) (dIsmIssIng cInIm for wngos undor sfnfo
mInImum wngo Inw); 1l-Iorro v. So,,eJ, 226 S.W.3d
?92 (Ark. 2006) (dIsmIssIng cInIm for bronch of Imnn`s
omIoymonf confrncf); Von OeJol v. Vog/, 908 I.2d
ll22 (CoIo. l996) (dIsmIssIng InfonfIonnI nnd
nogIIgonf forf cInIms nrIsIng ouf of church`s
rovocnfIon of mInIsfor`s IIconso), IncIudIng suIfs
broughf by non-mInIsfor omIoyoos ngnInsf non-
roIIgIous omIoyors, soo Pielecl v. Moeeoeoi/
Gre,lounJ, 1nc., 668 .I.2d l298 (Mnss. l996)
2?

(dIsmIssIng suIf ngnInsf omIoyor for roIIgIous work
nccommodnfIons roquIrod undor sfnfo Inw).
SImIInrIy, courfs fhroughouf fho !nIfod Sfnfos
hnvo unIformIy rojocfod cInIms for cIorgy mnIrncfIco
undor fho IIrsf Amondmonf. Ironco v. Clurcl of
Jeeue Clrie/ of Lo//er-Do, Soin/e, 2l I.3d l98, 204
(!fnh 200l); soo, o.g., I.G. v. MocDonell, 696 A.2d
69? (.J. l99?) (dIsmIssIng cIorgy mnIrncfIco cInIm);
Aoll, v. Groce Conn. Clurcl, ?63 I.2d 948 (CnI.
l988) (snmo); Dee/ofono v. GroIrion, ?63 I.2d 2?5
(CoIo. l988) (snmo). Thoso courfs hnvo gonornIIy
hoId fhnf n doformInnfIon of such cInIms wouId
nocossnrIIy onfnngIo fho courfs In fho oxnmInnfIon of
roIIgIous docfrIno, rncfIco, or church oIIfynn
InquIry fhnf * * * Is rohIbIfod by fho |IIrsf
Amondmonf]. Ironco, 2l I.3d nf 204. Thoy hnvo, In
fncf, nIso dIsmIssod n much wIdor cInss of cInIms,
IncIudIng onos for gross nogIIgonco, nogIIgonf
InfIIcfIon of omofIonnI dIsfross, nnd bronch of
fIducInry dufy whon fhoy nro moroIy nn oIIIfIcnI
wny of nIIogIng cIorgy mnIrncfIco. I.g., iJ. nf 205.
Courfs hnvo IIkowIso dIsmIssod cInIms ngnInsf
churchos nnd fhoIr mombors for dofnmnfIon. I.g.,
Br,ce v. 1piecopol Clurcl, 289 I.3d 648, 659 (l0fh
CIr. 2002); Hu/clieon v. Tlonoe, ?89 I.2d 392 (6fh
CIr. l986). Thoy rocognIzo fhnf such cInIms ImIIcnfo
InfornnI occIosInsfIcnI dIsufo|s] nnd dInIoguo
rofocfod by fho IIrsf Amondmonf|`s roIIgIous
quosfIon docfrIno.] Br,ce, 289 I.3d nf 659.
Thoy nIso roufInoIy dIsmIss cInIms for InfonfIonnI
InfIIcfIon of omofIonnI dIsfross nnd ofhor forfs fhnf
chnIIongo church docIsIons fo dIscIIIno Ifs mombors,
soo, o.g., Poul v. Wo/cl/ouer BiIle & Troc/ Soc. of
28

Aeu Yor/, 1nc., 8l9 I.2d 8?5 (9fh CIr. l98?)
(dIsmIssIng rnngo of forf cInIms bnsod on church`s
shunnIng of formor mombor); Wee/Iroo/ v. Penle,,
23l S.W.3d 389 (Tox. 200?) (dIsmIssIng cInIm ngnInsf
church nnd nsfor for bronchIng counsoIIng
confIdonco In roIIgIous rocoodIng); Beor v. IeforneJ
Mennoni/e Clurcl, 34l A.2d l05 (In. l9?5)
(dIsmIssIng cInIm chnIIongIng oxcommunIcnfIon),
IncIudIng cInIms fhnf church InsfrucfIon fo mombors
fo shun formor mombor cnusod hIs busInoss fo fnII
nnd hIs fnmIIy fo sfo sonkIng fo hIm, o.g., iIiJ. In
nII fhoso cnsos, fho courfs dIsmIssod fho cInIms
bocnuso fhoy wouId roquIro doformInIng mnffors of
fnIfh.
Courfs ovon dIsmIss cInIms for fnIso
ImrIsonmonf, nssnuIf, bnffory, Ioss of consorfIum,
nnd chIId nbuso whon fhoy cnnnof doformIno
dnmngos wIfhouf InquIrIng Info roIIgIous boIIof. In
Pleoeon/ GloJe AeeenIl, of GoJ v. ScluIer/, 264
S.W.3d l (Tox. 2008), for oxnmIo, fho Toxns
Suromo Courf dIsmIssod cInIms for fhoso forfs fhnf
nroso from n forcofuI InyIng on of hnnds nffor n
sIghfIng of domons. Tho courf rocognIzod fhnf If
couId nof ovnIunfo nny dnmngos, n nocossnry oIomonf
of fhoso forfs, wIfhouf doformInIng nnd ovnIunfIng
church boIIof. Iocnuso fho roIIgIous rncfIco of
'InyIng hnnds` nnd church boIIofs nbouf domons nro so
cIosoIy InforfwInod wIfh |fho] forf cInIm|s], If nofod,
nssossIng * * * dnmngos * * * wouId unconsfI-
fufIonnIIy burdon fho church`s rIghf fo froo oxorcIso
nnd ombroII fhIs Courf In nn nssossmonf of fho
rorIofy of fhoso roIIgIous boIIofs. 1J. nf ll.
29

Tho !ouIsInnn Suromo Courf`s hoIdIng confIIcfs
mosf dIrocfIy wIfh cnsos dIsmIssIng cInIms bocnuso
fho Inw uon whIch fhoy nro bnsod furns on n
roIIgIous form. In Pielecl v. Moeeoeoi/ Gre,lounJ,
1nc., 668 .I.2d l298, for oxnmIo, fho
Mnssnchusoffs Suromo JudIcInI Courf dIsmIssod n
InwsuIf broughf by omIoyoos of n dog rncIng frnck
ngnInsf fhoIr omIoyor cInImIng fhnf fhoy woro
onfIfIod fo ChrIsfmns ny off undor sfnfo Inw. Tho
courf hoId fho sfnfufo unconsfIfufIonnI bocnuso If
roquIrod fho courfs fo doformIno whnf ncfIons nnd
boIIofs nro roquIrod of ndhoronfs fo fho !omnn
CnfhoIIc fnIfh. 1J. nf l304. !oIyIng on fhIs Courf`s
roIIgIous quosfIon cnsos, soo iJ. nf l303, fho
Mnssnchusoffs courf hoId, |f]hoso nro nof roor
mnffors for fho courfs fo docIdo, iJ. nf l304.
Two fodornI courfs of nonIs nnd fho ow Jorsoy
Suromo Courf hnvo IIkowIso hoId unconsfIfufIonnI
Inws nddrossIng fho frnuduIonf snIo of food InboIod
koshor. AII fhroo courfs hnvo hoId fhnf InvoIvIng
courfs In fho busInoss of doformInIng whofhor nn
Ifom Is fruIy koshor, ns fho Inws roquIrod, vIoInfos
fho roIIgIous quosfIon docfrIno. Soo Connoc/ Self-
Sertice Koeler Meo/e, 1nc. v. Weiee, 294 I.2d 4l5, 42?
(2d CIr. 2002); Borglou/ v. Bureou of Koeler Meo/ &
IooJ Con/rol, 66 I.3d l33?, l344 (4fh CIr. l995);
Ion-Dotè C/,. Koeler, 1nc. v. S/o/e, 608 A.2d l353,
l362-l364 (.J. l992). As fho Socond CIrcuIf
oxInInod,
In ordor fo nssorf fhnf n food nrfIcIo doos nof
conform fo koshor roquIromonfs, ow York musf
fnko nn offIcInI osIfIon ns fo whnf nro fho koshor
roquIromonfs. In doIng so, fho onrfmonf musf
30

oIfhor Inforrof roIIgIous docfrIno or dofor fo fho
InforrofnfIon of roIIgIous offIcInIs In ronchIng Ifs
offIcInI osIfIon. * * * Sfnfo nufhorIfIos |cnn]nof
mnko n doformInnfIon fhnf * * * monf d|oos] nof
conform fo koshor roquIromonfs wIfhouf fIrsf
|nrrIvIng] nf nn offIcInI osIfIon on whnf fho
koshor roquIromonfs nro.
Connoc/, 294 I.3d nf 42?-428 (quofIng PreeI,/erion
Clurcl, 393 !.S. nf 452 (HnrInn, J., concurrIng));
nccord Borglou/, 66 I.3d nf l344 (CIfy offIcInIs or
munIcInI courfs wouId hnvo fo doformIno fho
Orfhodox sfnndnrds of knshruf * * *. ThIs Is cIonrIy
nof ormIffod by our IsfnbIIshmonf CInuso
jurIsrudonco.); Ion-Dotè, 608 A.2d nf l363-l364
(|Courfs] mny nof rosoIvo * * * confrovorsIos If
rosoIufIon roquIros fho InforrofnfIon of roIIgIous
docfrIno * * * nnd nny ndjudIcnfIon by n courf |of
whofhor nrfIcuInr food wns roorIy koshor]
InovIfnbIy wouId onfnII fho nIIcnfIon nnd
InforrofnfIon of JowIsh Inw.).
Tho !ouIsInnn`s Suromo Courf`s hoIdIng IvofIng
cIvII IInbIIIfy on whofhor sfnfomonfs consfIfufo
confossIon|] per ee onmoshos fho courfs In oxncfIy
fhIs kInd of InquIry. To foII whofhor sfnfomonfs nro
confossIon per ee, n courf musf oIfhor Inforrof
roIIgIous docfrIno or dofor fo fho InforrofnfIon of
roIIgIous offIcInIs In ronchIng Ifs offIcInI osIfIon.
Connoc/, 294 I.3d nf 42?-428 (quofIng PreeI,/erion
Clurcl, 393 !.S. nf 452 (HnrInn, J., concurrIng)).
WIfhIn fho Socond nnd Iourfh CIrcuIfs, such IInbIIIfy
Is unconsfIfufIonnI. Tho Sfnfo sImIy cnnnof furn
IInbIIIfy on fho monnIng of n roIIgIous form. In
!ouIsInnn, by confrnsf, such IInbIIIfy Is consfIfufIonnI.
3l

Tho Sfnfo con nffnch forf IInbIIIfy fo fho monnIng of
such forms. Tho ossIbIIIfy of IInbIIIfy In fhIs cnso,
fhon, doonds uon fho hnonsfnnco of googrnhy.
Tho consfIfufIonnIIfy of such Inws In !ouIsInnn
IfsoIf, moroovor, mny woII doond on fho
hnonsfnnco of whIch courf sysfomsfnfo or
fodornInny chnIIongo occurs In. SInco fho IIffh
CIrcuIf fnkos n robusf vIow of fho roIIgIous quosfIon
docfrIno, soo, o.g., ConIe v. Cen/. Tex. Ann. Conf. Of
Tle Ini/eJ Me/loJie/ Clurcl, l?3 I.3d 343 (5fh CIr.
l999) (rojocfIng omIoymonf cInIm broughf by cIorgy
mombor ngnInsf church); Clurcl Of GoJ 1n Clrie/,
1nc. v. Cou/lon, 50? I.2d 599 (5fh CIr. l9?5)
(nIyIng roIIgIous quosfIon docfrIno fo soffIo church
roorfy dIsufo), rodIcnfIng IInbIIIfy on fho
monnIng of n roIIgIous form wouId IIkoIy rovoko
fhoro grnvo doubfs nbouf fho Inw`s consfIfufIonnIIfy.
III. ThIs Offon-!ocurrIng Issuo Is Ono Of ConfrnI
Imorfnnco To Churchos And ThoIr Mombors
Tho Issuo fhIs cnso rosonfsbofh In Ifs
nnrrowosf nnd brondosf formsImIIcnfos fho
roIIgIous froodom of mIIIIons of AmorIcnns. Mosf
nnrrowIy, fho roughIy 4,500,000 !omnn CnfhoIIcs
who IIvo In !ouIsInnn, soo CnfhoIIc HIornrchy, ISA.
S/o/ie/ice B, Protince (IrovInco of ow OrIonns),
hff://www.cnfhoIIc-hIornrchy.org/counfry/scus3.hfm
I, now undorsfnnd fhnf fhoy cnnnof sook fho
Sncrnmonf of !oconcIIInfIon wIfhouf fho Sfnfo
ossIbIy bronkIng fho sonI of fho confossIon nnd
InquIrIng Info whnf wns snId. Thnf wIII nof onIy
dIscourngo somo from sookIng fho Sncrnmonf,
wIfhouf whIch fhoy boIIovo fhoy cnnnof nchIovo
ofornnI snIvnfIon If fhoy hnvo sorIousIy sInnod, buf
32

nIso crIIo fho Church`s mIssIon of snvIng souIs. Tho
hoIdIng nIso fhronfons ofhor roIIgIons` counsoIIIng
rogrnms In fho Sfnfo. A mInIsfor who, ns nrf of fho
church`s offIcInI mIssIon, counsoIs church mombors fo
nronch fhoIr robIoms In fho wny fhoIr fnIfh
domnnds mny now fonr fhnf fho Sfnfo wIII dosfroy fho
confIdonfInIIfy of fhoso dIscussIons nnd ossIbIy
Imoso IInbIIIfy If If dIsngroos wIfh fho ndvIco ho
gnvo.
Moro brondIy, fho !ouIsInnn Suromo Courf`s
hoIdIng fhronfons ofhor roIIgIous rncfIcos nnd
boIIofs. If fho Sfnfo cnn furn IInbIIIfy on fho concof
of confossIon per ee, why nof on kooIng koshor per
ee, bnfIsm per ee, ronchIng per ee, or roIIgIous
oducnfIon per ee Tho Sfnfo couId Imoso IInbIIIfy
bnsod on Ifs own Idons, nof fho church`s, nbouf
whofhor fho church wns foIIowIng nn nccofnbIo vIow
of Ifs own roIIgIous fnIfh nnd rncfIcos. Torfs IIko
cIorgy mnIrncfIco, InfonfIonnI InfIIcfIon of
omofIonnI dIsfross, nogIIgonco, nnd dofnmnfIon
couId bo usod fo Imoso IInbIIIfy for fho oxorcIso of
fnIfh. Soo . 26-3l, eupro. Thnf, ns courfs
oIsowhoro unIformIy rocognIzo, Incos nn InfoIornbIo
burdon on roIIgIous boIIof. Soo iIiJ.
Moro brondIy sfIII, fho hoIdIng boIow Incos
rossuro on roIIgIous froodom nnfIonwIdo. Whon
churchos oIsowhoro undorsfnnd fhnf Iong-undorsfood
froodoms nro now Ioss socuro, fhoy mny bo fomfod fo
nvoId ofonfInI IInbIIIfy by frImmIng fhoIr own boIIofs
nnd rncfIcos fo mnjorIfnrInn vIows of nrorInfo
roIIgIous bohnvIor.

33

IV. ThIs Cnso Is An IdonI VohIcIo Ior AddrossIng
Whofhor Sfnfos Cnn Socond-Cuoss !oIIgIons`
Own VIows As To Whnf ThoIr InIfh Monns And
!oquIros
ThIs cnso concorns whofhor fho IIrsf
Amondmonf`s roIIgIous quosfIon docfrIno roquIros n
courf fo nccof n roIIgIon`s vIow of whnf ono of Ifs
confrnI rncfIcos onfnIIs. IofIfIonors rnIsod fhIs Issuo
boIow boforo fho dIsfrIcf courf, Tr. on Hr`g on Mof. In
!ImIno ll (nrguIng fhnf If fho sfnfufo cronfos nn
obIIgnfIon on fho rIosf fo dIvuIgo whnf hnons
durIng confossIon, or durIng nn nIIogod confossIon,
* * * If Is In grnvo vIoInfIon of fho IIrsf Amondmonf),
nnd boforo fho !ouIsInnn Suromo Courf ImmodInfoIy
nffor If ndofod fho confossIon|] per ee sfnndnrd, n
sfnndnrd ndvnncod by noIfhor nrfy nf nny rIor
oInf In fho IIfIgnfIon. In fhoIr roquosf for rohonrIng
by fhnf courf, ofIfIonors nrguod fhnf fho sfnndnrd
vIoInfod fho IIrsf Amondmonf nnd fhus roquIrod
dIsmIssnI of fho cnso. AI. for !oh`g SubmIffod by
ofs. 5. Tho !ouIsInnn Suromo Courf nocossnrIIy
rojocfod fhnf vIow In donyIng rohonrIngnIfhough
JusfIco`s CuIdry`s concurronco In fho donInI nnd
JusfIco VIcfory`s dIssonf from If bofh IndIcnfo buyor`s
romorso for fho concof of confossIon|] per ee on
whIch fho or curInm mnkos IInbIIIfy furn, soo A.,
infro, ?2n-?3n (CuIdry, J., concurrIng In donInI of
rohonrIng) (dIsnvowIng fhnf form confossIon or so
hns nny roIovnnco fo cnso); iJ. nf ?4n (VIcfory, J.,
dIssonfIng from donInI of rohonrIng) (I wouId grnnf
rohonrIng fo corrocf fho or curInm whIch romnnds
fho cnso fo fho frInI courf fo doformIno whofhor fho
communIcnfIons bofwoon fho rIosf nnd fho mInor
woro 'confossIons per ee.`).
34

Tho Issuo Is nIso ono of uro Inwule/ler fho
roIIgIous quosfIon docfrIno nIIos, nof lou If nIIos.
!ndor nny concoIvnbIo nIIcnfIon of fhnf docfrIno,
fho Sfnfo wouId hnvo fo nccof fho Church`s vIow fhnf
nII sfnfomonfs mndo durIng fho Sncrnmonf nro
rofocfod by fho confossIonnI sonI. Tho Sfnfo couId
fhus nof bronk fho sonI, vIoInfo fho Sncrnmonf, nnd
sIff fhrough whnf wns snId In confossIon fo doformIno
IfsoIf whIch IndIvIdunI sfnfomonfs woro
confossIon|nI] per ee nnd whIch woro nof.
Iurfhormoro, fho consoquoncos of goIng forwnrd
whon fho dIsfrIcf courf hns boon ordorod fo bronk fho
sonI of fho confossIons nro sovoro bofh fo Infhor
InyhI nnd fo fho Church. Infhor InyhI wouId bo
nufomnfIcnIIy oxcommunIcnfod from fho Church If ho
bronks fho sonI. Tho Church wouId bo IrrodoomnbIy
Injurod ns Ifs mombors ronIIzod fhnf If couId no
Iongor offor fho sncrnmonfnI rofocfIons nocossnry for
orsonnI rodomfIon.
AIfhough fochnIcnIIy In nn InforIocufory osfuro,
fho judgmonf Is fInnI for urosos of fhIs Courf`s
jurIsdIcfIon. !ndor Cox BrooJcoe/ing Corp. v. Coln,
420 !.S. 469 (l9?5), nnd Mioni HerolJ PuIlieling
Co. v. Tornillo, 4l8 !.S. 24l (l9?4), fhIs Courf onjoys
jurIsdIcfIon undor 28 !.S.C. l25?. AII fho
roquIromonfs of fhoso cnsos nro mof:
l. Tho !ouIsInnn Suromo Courf`s judgmonf Is
InInIy fInnI on fho fodornI Issuo nnd Is nof
subjocf fo furfhor rovIow In fho sfnfo courfs;
2. |IofIfIonors] wIII bo IInbIo for dnmngos If fho
oIomonfs of fho sfnfo cnuso of ncfIon nro
rovod;
35

3. |I]f fho |!ouIsInnn] courf orronoousIy
|Inforrofod fho IIrsf Amondmonf] fhoro
shouId bo no frInI nf nII;
4. |I]von If |ofIfIonors] rovnIIod nf frInI nnd
mndo unnocossnry furfhor consIdornfIon of fho
consfIfufIonnI quosfIon, fhoro wouId romnIn In
offocf fho unrovIowod docIsIon of fho Sfnfo
Suromo Courf fhnf n cIvII ncfIon * * * mny go
forwnrd dosIfo fho IIrsf * * * Amondmonf|];
5. oInyIng fInnI docIsIon of fho IIrsf
Amondmonf cInIm unfII nffor frInI wIII 'Ionvo
unnnsworod . . . nn Imorfnnf quosfIon * * *
undor fho IIrsf Amondmonf,` 'nn unonsy nnd
unsoffIod consfIfufIonnI osfuro |fhnf] couId
onIy furfhor hnrm fho oornfIon of |roIIgIon];
nnd
6. Woro fhIs Courf fo hoId fhnf fho IIrsf * * *
Amondmonf|] bnr|s] cIvII IInbIIIfy * * *, fhIs
IIfIgnfIon onds.
Cox BrooJcoe/ing, 420 !.S. nf 485-486. In shorf,
|g]Ivon fhoso fncforsfhnf fho IIfIgnfIon couId bo
formInnfod by |fhIs Courf`s] docIsIon on fho morIfs
nnd fhnf n fnIIuro fo docIdo fho quosfIon now wIII
Ionvo |churchos] In |!ouIsInnn] oornfIng In fho
shndow of fho cIvII nnd crImInnI snncfIons of n
ruIo of Inw * * * fho consfIfufIonnIIfy of whIch Is In
sorIous doubf * * * ronchIng fho morIfs Is
consIsfonf wIfh fho rngmnfIc nronch fhnf |fhIs
Courf hns] foIIowod In fho nsf In doformInIng
fInnIIfy.
1J. nf 486.
36

Tho nnfuro of fho dIsufo nIso counsoIs for
ImmodInfo rovIow. Tho roIIgIous quosfIon docfrIno,
IIko qunIIfIod ImmunIfy, sovoroIgn ImmunIfy, offIcInI
ImmunIfy, nnd ImmunIfy from doubIo joonrdy,
oornfos ns nn ImmunIfy from IIfIgnfIon, nof jusf
from dnmngos. McCor/l, v. Iuller, ?l4 I.3d 9?l, 9?5
(?fh CIr. 20l3). Thus, |I]f fho dofonso * * * Is
orronoousIy donIod nnd fho dofondnnf hns fo undorgo
fho frInI boforo fho orror Is corrocfod|,] ho hns boon
IrrovocnbIy dorIvod of ono of fho bonofIfsfroodom
from hnvIng fo undorgo n frInIfhnf hIs ImmunIfy
wns Infondod fo gIvo hIm. 1IiJ. IosfonIng rovIow
In fhoso cIrcumsfnncos wronk|s] IrronrnbIo hnrm.
1IiJ.
Tho dIsufo Is fuIIy rondy for fhIs Courf`s rovIow.
oIny wouId, moroovor, Inco ofIfIonors In n doubIo
bInd. In ordor fo orsundo fho courf fhnf no IInbIIIfy
nffnchos bocnuso fho sfnfomonfs woro confossIon|nI]
or so, fhoy musf vIoInfo fho snncfIfy of fho
Sncrnmonf IfsoIf. If, on fho ofhor hnnd, fhoy rosocf
fho sonI of confossIon, fhoy cnn offor no ovIdonco of
nny sfnfomonfs` confossIonnI chnrncfor Indood, no
ovIdonco fhnf n confossIon ovon occurrod, soo ofs.`
Mof. Summ. J. Ix. A (nffIdnvIf of Infhor InuI
Counco, JudIcInI VIcnr of fho Iocoso)nnd wIII bo
subjocf fo courf snncfIons nnd forf IInbIIIfy.
COC!!SIO
Tho ofIfIon for n wrIf of corfIornrI shouId bo
grnnfod.

3?

!osocffuIIy submIffod.

O M. !ICHA!
MICHAI! !. ISHAZO
Kinne,, 1llingloueen,
IiclorJ & DeSloco
120 Po,Jroe S/ree/, Sui/e
240
Aeu Orleone, Louieiono
70113
(04) 24-0206

MAY 20l4

AII! !. O!TIZ
Initerei/, of Virginio
Sclool of Lou
S0 Moeeie IooJ
Clorlo//eetille, VA 22903
Jrotirginio.eJu
(434) 924-3127

*Couneel of IecorJ

Appendix
ln

/.!)"9" ,%.)# %( 4%.$/$*&*

&% 5KLMN,N5OP6

Q!*)"&#/ %( 9$&%) ,1$40R

S")/./

2"%)2" T7 ,1*)4"#U T)7U 0","*/"0U
,1*)4"# (.&")*4 1%9"U $&,7U
Q#1" !)$"/#RU *&0 #1"
)%9*& ,*#1%4$, ,1.),1 %( #1"
0$%,"/" %( 3*#%& )%.2"

%& +)$# %( ,")#$%)*)$ #% #1"
,%.)# %( *!!"*4U
($)/# ,$),.$#U
!*)$/1 %( "*/# 3*#%& )%.2"

!") ,.)$*9
ThIs wrIf rosonfs fho Issuo of whofhor n nrfy
Is rocIudod from offorIng nny ovIdonco of hor
confossIon nnd whofhor n rIosf hns n dufy fo roorf
nIIognfIons of soxunI nbuso orofrnfod on n mInor
nrIshIonor. Ior fho foIIowIng ronsons, wo grnnf fho
InInfIffs` wrIf, rovorsIng nnd vncnfIng fho courf of
nonI`s judgmonf nnd roInsfnfIng fho frInI courf`s
judgmonf.

2n

(*,#/ *&0 !)%,"0.)*4 1$/#%)V
On JuIy 6, 2009, InInfIffs, fho nronfs of n
mInor dnughfor, fIIod n ofIfIon for dnmngos sufforod
by fhom nnd fhoIr dnughfor ns n rosuIf of fho nIIogod
InnrorInfo nnd soxunI ncfs orofrnfod on fho
mInor chIId. Thoy nnmod ns dofondnnfs: fho nIIogod
orofrnfor, fhon-doconsod Coorgo J. ChnrIof, Jr., n
woII-known, Iong-fImo nrIshIonor nnd ncfIvo
mombor of Our !ndy of fho AssumfIon CnfhoIIc
Church; ChnrIof IunornI Homo, Inc. of whIch Mr.
ChnrIof wns fho nIIogod IrosIdonf; fho rIosf, for
nIIogodIy boIng n mnndnfory roorfor who fnIIod fo
roorf fho nbuso nIIognfIons; nnd fho !omnn CnfhoIIc
Church of fho Iocoso of Infon !ougo (Church),
nIIogIng vIcnrIous IInbIIIfy for fho nIIogod
mIsconducf of fho rIosf In fnIIIng fo roorf fho
soxunI nbuso, ns woII ns for fho nogIIgonf frnInIng
nnd suorvIsIon of fho rIosf.
Tho ofIfIon nIIogos durIng fho summor of 2008,
whon fho mInor chIId wns nroxImnfoIy fourfoon
yonrs of ngo, fhoro bognn nn oxchnngo of omnIIs from
Mr. ChnrIof, who wns fhon 64 yonrs of ngo, fo fho
mInor chIId, whIch soon Incronsod In froquoncy nnd
bocnmo Incod wIfh soducfIvo nunncos. Tho ofIfIon
furfhor dofnIIs fho confInuod wrongfuI ncfs of Mr.
ChnrIof, whIch cuImInnfod wIfh kIssIng nnd fondIIng
fho mInor chIId.
IInInfIffs nIIogo fho mInor chIId bocnmo confusod
nnd scnrod ovor fho ovoIvIng roInfIonshI wIfh Mr.
ChnrIof, nnd on fhroo sonrnfo occnsIons, sho docIdod
fo sook sIrIfunI guIdnnco fhrough confossIon wIfh
fho dofondnnf rIosf. Tho ofIfIon nIIogos on
3n

Tuosdny, JuIy l5, 2008, nnd Tuosdny, JuIy 29, 2008,
rIor fo fho 6:30 .m. mnss nf fho church, ns woII ns
on nf Ionsf ono ofhor occnsIon nffor JuIy 29, 2008,
fho mInor chIId roInfod fo fho rIosf durIng hor
confossIon Mr. ChnrIof hnd InnrorInfoIy fouchod
hor, kIssod hor, nnd foId hor fhnf ho wnnfod fo mnko
Iovo fo hor. AccordIng fo fho ofIfIon, nnd consIsfonf
wIfh fho mInor chIId`s subsoquonf doosIfIon
fosfImony, fho rIosf nIIogodIy rosondod sho sImIy
noodod fo hnndIo fho sIfunfIon horsoIf, bocnuso
ofhorwIso, foo mnny ooIo wouId bo hurf. Tho
mInor chIId fosfIfIod fhnf, durIng ono of fhoso
confossIons, sho foId fho rIosf whnf hnd hnonod
nnd nskod for ndvIco on how fo ond If. AccordIng fo
hor doosIfIon fosfImony: Ho jusf snId, fhIs Is your
robIom. Swoo If undor fho fIoor nnd gof rId of If.
Subsoquonf fo fhoso fhroo nIIogod confossIons, fho
nbusIvo ncfs confInuod. AccordIng fo fho nIIognfIons
In fho ofIfIon nnd fho doosIfIon fosfImony In fho
rocord, subsoquonf moofIngs woro hndono
bofwoon fho rIosf nnd Mr. nnd Mrs. ChnrIof, nnd
nnofhor bofwoon fho ChnrIofs nnd fho mInor
chIId`s nronfs (fho InInfIffs)concornIng fho
obsossIvo numbor of omnIIs nnd hono cnIIs
bofwoon Mr. ChnrIof nnd fho mInor chIId nnd fho
soomIngIy InnrorInfo cIosonoss bofwoon fho fwo
fhnf hnd boon obsorvod by vnrIous nrIshIonors.
ShorfIy fhoronffor, fho nronfs confronfod fhoIr
mInor dnughfor nbouf fho omnIIs nnd hono cnIIs, nf
whIch fImo, sho confossod fo fho fruo nnfuro of fho
roInfIonshI wIfh Mr. ChnrIof, IncIudIng dofnIIs of fho
InnrorInfo soxunI confncfs. Tho InInfIffs
4n

ImmodInfoIy confncfod Mr. ChnrIof, ordorIng hIm fo
conso confncf wIfh fhoIr dnughfor, nnd fIIod n formnI
comInInf ngnInsf Mr. ChnrIof wIfh fho Insf
IoIIcInnn InrIsh ShorIffs onrfmonf. AccordIng fo
fho ofIfIon, fho InvosfIgnfIon wns ongoIng whon Mr.
ChnrIof dIod unoxocfodIy, nffor sufforIng n mnssIvo
honrf nffnck whIIo In osf-oornfIvo rocovory,
foIIowIng knoo-roIncomonf surgory.
ShorfIy boforo frInI wns schoduIod fo commonco
In fho rosonf mnffor, fho Church fIIod Ifs mofIon In
IImIno, sookIng fo rovonf fho InInfIffs from
monfIonIng, roforoncIng, nnd/or InfroducIng
ovIdonco nf frInI of nny confossIons fhnf mny or mny
nof hnvo fnkon Inco bofwoon InInfIffs` mInor chIId
nnd fho rIosf, whIIo fho rIosf wns ncfIng In hIs
offIcInI cnncIfy ns n Iocosnn rIosf nnd honrIng
confossIon from hIs nrIshIonor. Tho frInI courf
donIod fho mofIon, fIndIng fho fosfImony of fho mInor
chIId rognrdIng fho confossIon wns roIovnnf nnd,
corfnInIy, ns fho hoIdor of fho rIvIIogo, sho wns
onfIfIod fo wnIvo If nnd fosfIfy. Howovor, fho frInI
courf dId rocognIzo fho conundrum wIfh whIch |fho
rIosf] Is rosonfod, nnd I know hIs soIufIon fo fhnf Is
goIng fo bo fhnf ho Is nof goIng fo sny nnyfhIng nbouf
nny confossIon.
On suorvIsory wrIf, fho Courf of AonI, IIrsf
CIrcuIf, rovorsod fho frInI courf`s donInI of fho mofIon
nnd grnnfod Ifs own oromfory oxcofIon of no
cnuso of ncfIon. [Poren/e of Minor ClilJ] t. Clorle/,
l3-03l6 (!n. A. l CIr. l0/2l/l3), So.3d. In so
ruIIng, fho noIInfo courf ronsonod:
5n

Iocnuso wo hnvo concIudod fhnf fho rIosf
Is nof n mnndnfory- roorfor, fhoro cnn bo
no rIvnfo or cIvII cnuso of ncfIon ngnInsf hIm
for nny bronch of n sfnfufo InnIIcnbIo fo hIm;
fhus, nny ovIdonco or fosfImony, by nnyono,
rognrdIng fho occurronco of n confossIon, or fho
subjocf mnffor fhoroof, Is whoIIy InndmIssIbIo,
IrroIovnnf, nnd non-robnfIvo. AccordIngIy,
fho mofIon In IImIno, sookIng fo oxcIudo nII
such ovIdonco, shouId hnvo boon grnnfod.
1J. nf . l6. Moroovor, If found no cIvII cnuso
of ncfIon or cIvII romody for vIoInfIon of fho
mnndnfory roorfor rovIsIon oIfhor fo roorf or
ndvIso. 1J. nf . l?. AccordIngIy, fho Courf of
AonI dIsmIssod fho InInfIffs` cInIms ngnInsf fho
rIosf nnd fho Church In fhoIr onfIrofy, wIfh
rojudIco.
0$/,.//$%&
TnkIng fho Issuos In fho ordor fhoy woro dIsosod
of by fho Iowor courfs, wo fIrsf nddross whofhor fho
confossIon IfsoIf Is ndmIssIbIo nnd whofhor fho
onIfonf Is nIIowod fo fosfIfy ns fo hor confossIon.
!oIovnnf horoIn, !n. Codo IvId. nrf. 5ll sofs forfh
fho rIosf-onIfonf rIvIIogo nnd rovIdos:
A. ofInIfIons. As usod In fhIs ArfIcIo:
(l) A cIorgymnn Is n mInIsfor,
rIosf, rnbbI, ChrIsfInn ScIonco
rncfIfIonor, or ofhor sImIInr
funcfIonnry of n roIIgIous
orgnnIznfIon, or nn IndIvIdunI
6n

ronsonnbIy boIIovod so fo bo by fho
orson consuIfIng hIm.
(2) A communIcnfIon Is
confIdonfInI If If Is mndo rIvnfoIy
nnd nof Infondod for furfhor
dIscIosuro oxcof fo ofhor orsons
rosonf In furfhornnco of fho
uroso of fho communIcnfIon.
I. ConornI ruIo of rIvIIogo. " #$%&'( hns
n rIvIIogo fo rofuso fo dIscIoso nnd fo
rovonf nnofhor orson from dIscIosIng n
confIdonfInI communIcnfIon )* +,$ #$%&'(
+' - ./$%0*1-( In hIs rofossIonnI
chnrncfor ns sIrIfunI ndvIsor.
C. Who mny cInIm fho rIvIIogo. Tho
rIvIIogo mny bo cInImod by fho orson or
by hIs IognI rorosonfnfIvo. Tho cIorgymnn
Is rosumod fo hnvo nufhorIfy fo cInIm fho
rIvIIogo '( )$,-/2 '2 +,$ #$%&'( '%
3$.$-&$3 #$%&'(4
!n. Codo IvId. nrf. 5ll (omhnsIs nddod). !ndor Ifs
rovIsIons, fho rIvIIogo cIonrIy boIongs fo fho
onIfonf-communIcnnf, nof fo fho rIosf: " #$%&'(
hns n rIvIIogo fo rofuso fo dIscIoso nnd fo rovonf
nnofhor orson from dIscIosIng n confIdonfInI
communIcnfIon )* +,$ #$%&'( fo n cIorgymnn..
!n. Codo IvId. nrf. 5ll(I); eee oleo !n. Codo IvId.
nrf. 5ll, Commonfsl992 (I)(!ndor fhIs ArfIcIo fho
rIvIIogo cIonrIy boIongs fo fho communIcnnf.). If
foIIows, If fho onIfonf wnIvos fho rIvIIogo, fho
rIosf cnnnof fhon rnIso If fo rofocf hImsoIf ns ho
?n

cnn onIy cInIm fho rIvIIogo '( )$,-/2 '2 +,$
#$%&'(, nof In hIs own rIghf. !n. Codo IvId. nrf.
5ll(C). Thoroforo, wo fInd fho noIInfo courf orrod
In grnnfIng fho Church`s mofIon In IImIno, oxcIudIng
nII ovIdonco of fho confossIon In Ifs onfIrofy ns fho
chIId/onIfonf Is froo fo fosfIfy nnd Infroduco
ovIdonco ns fo hor own confossIon.
Tho noxf quosfIon Is whofhor fho noIInfo courf
orrod In dIsmIssIng fho InInfIffs` ncfIon ngnInsf fho
rIosf nnd fho Church on Ifs own oromfory
oxcofIon of no cnuso of ncfIon. In Ifs ruIIng, fho
noIInfo courf fIrsf nofod fhoro Is no dufy on n
cIorgy mombor, fho bronch of whIch wouId susfnIn n
rIvnfo or cIvII cnuso of ncfIon. ThIs ronsonIng,
howovor, dIsrognrds our gonornI concof of
IInbIIIfy sof forfh In our CIvII Codo fhnf |o]vory ncf
whnfovor of mnn fhnf cnusos dnmngo fo nnofhor
obIIgos hIm by whoso fnuIf If hnonod fo ronIr If,
!n. CIv. Codo nrf. 23l5, nnd |o]vory orson Is
rosonsIbIo for fho dnmngo ho occnsIons nof moroIy
by hIs ncf, buf by hIs nogIIgonco, hIs Imrudonco, or
hIs wnnf of skIII, !n. CIv. Codo nrf. 23l6. If IIkowIso
dIsrognrds fho dufy Imosod by Inw on mombors of
fho cIorgy undor !n. ChIId. Codo nrfs. 603(l5) nnd
609.
!ndor fho rovIsIons of !n. ChIId Codo nrf.
603(l5), n mnndnfory roorfor Is dofInod ns nny of
fho foIIowIng IndIvIdunIs:
(c) Mombor of fho cIorgy Is nny rIosf,
rnbbI, duIy ordnInod cIorIcnI doncon or
mInIsfor, ChrIsfInn ScIonco rncfIfIonor, or
ofhor sImIInrIy sIfunfod funcfIonnry of n
8n

roIIgIous orgnnIznfIon, oxcof fhnf ho Is nof
roquIrod fo roorf n confIdonfInI
communIcnfIon, ns dofInod In Codo of IvIdonco
ArfIcIo 5ll, from n orson fo n mombor of fho
cIorgy who, In fho courso of fho dIscIIIno or
rncfIco of fhnf church, donomInnfIon, or
orgnnIznfIon, Is nufhorIzod or nccusfomod fo
honrIng confIdonfInI communIcnfIons, nnd
undor fho dIscIIIno or fonofs of fho church,
donomInnfIon, or orgnnIznfIon hns n dufy fo
koo such communIcnfIons confIdonfInI. In
fhnf Insfnnco, ho shnII oncourngo fhnf orson
fo roorf fho nIIognfIons fo fho nrorInfo
nufhorIfIos In nccordnnco wIfh ArfIcIo 6l0.
!n. ChIId. Codo nrf. 603(l5). A mombor of fho
cIorgy ns n mnndnfory roorfor undor fhIs rovIsIon
fhon hns n mnndnfory dufy fo roorf nbuso In
nccordnnco wIfh fho foIIowIng rovIsIons of !n. ChIId.
Codo nrf. 609:
ofwIfhsfnndIng nny cInIm of rIvIIogod
communIcnfIon, nny mnndnfory roorfor who
hns cnuso fo boIIovo fhnf n chIId's hysIcnI or
monfnI honIfh or woIfnro Is ondnngorod ns n
rosuIf of nbuso or nogIocf or fhnf nbuso or
nogIocf wns n confrIbufIng fncfor In n chIId's
donfh shnII roorf In nccordnnco wIfh ArfIcIo
6l0.
!n. ChIId. Codo nrf. 609.
Whofhor fhIs nrfIcuInr rIosf owod fhIs
nrfIcuInr dufy fo fho InInfIffs In fhIs nrfIcuInr
fncfunI confoxf Is n mIxod quosfIon of Inw nnd fncf.
9n

Soo Konnoy v. Cox, 950l26, . l (!n. 3/30/95), 652
So.2d 992 (onnIs, J., concurrIng)(nofIng fhoro Is n
dIsfIncfIon bofwoon fho oxIsfonco of n gonornI dufy
of cnro (n IognI quosfIon) nnd fho 'IognI cnuso` or
'dufy/rIsk` quosfIon of fho nrfIcuInr dufy owod In n
nrfIcuInr fncfunI confoxf (n mIxod quosfIon of Inw
nnd fncf)); soo nIso IIfro v. !ouIsInnn Toch
!nIvorsIfy, 95l466, 95l48?, . 22 (!n. 5/l0/96),
6?3 So.2d 585, 596 (!ommon, J., concurrIng; joInod
by KImbnII, J.)(nofIng |I]n fho usunI cnso whoro fho
dufy owod doonds uon fho cIrcumsfnncos of
fho nrfIcuInr cnso, nnnIysIs of fho dofondnnf`s
conducf shouId bo dono In forms of 'no IInbIIIfy` or 'no
bronch of dufy.`). Thoroforo, wo fInd fho noIInfo
courf orrod In dIsmIssIng InInfIffs` cInIms wIfh
rojudIco ns fho quosfIon of dufy/rIsk shouId bo
rosoIvod by fho fncffIndor nf frInI, nrfIcuInrIy horoIn
whoro fhoro oxIsfs mnforInI Issuos of fncf concornIng
whofhor fho communIcnfIons bofwoon fho chIId nnd
fho rIosf woro confossIons per ee nnd whofhor fho
rIosf obfnInod knowIodgo oufsIdo fho confossIonnI
fhnf wouId frIggor hIs dufy fo roorf.
AccordIngIy, wo rovorso nnd vncnfo fho noIInfo
courf`s judgmonf In Ifs onfIrofy, wo horoby rondor
judgmonf roInsfnfIng fho judgmonf of fho frInI courf,
nnd wo romnnd fhIs mnffor for furfhor rocoodIngs
consIsfonf wIfh fhIs oInIon.
)"S")/"0 C=B S*,*#"0W )"&0")"0
C=B )"9*&0"0 #% #1" 0$/#)$,# ,%.)#7

l0n

/.!)"9" ,%.)# %( 4%.$/$*&*

&% 5KLMN,N5OP6

Q!*)"&#/ %( 9$&%) ,1$40R

S")/./

2"%)2" T7 ,1*)4"#U T)7U 0","*/"0U
,1*)4"# (.&")*4 1%9"U $&,7U
Q#1" !)$"/#RU *&0 #1"
)%9*& ,*#1%4$, ,1.),1 %( #1"
0$%,"/" %( 3*#%& )%.2"

%& +)$# %( ,")#$%)*)$ #% #1"
,%.)# %( *!!"*4U
($)/# ,$),.$#U
!*)$/1 %( "*/# 3*#%& )%.2"

1.21"/U T7 ;<=;@HH?=X7
WhIIo I rosocffuIIy concur wIfh fho courf`s
oInIon, I wIsh fo omhnsIzo fhnf fho Issuo of
whofhor fho subjocf communIcnfIon wns In fncf n
confossIon noods fo bo nddrossod boforo fho
IognIIfIos cnn bo rosoIvod. I boIIovo fho InfogrIfy of
fho sncrnmonf musf bo rofocfod fo fho ufmosf, nof
onIy for fho snko of fho nrfIcInnfs, buf fo rofocf
fho nbIIIfy of IndIvIdunIs fo frooIy confoss fhoIr sIns. I
soo nofhIng fhnf rovonfs fho chIId from fosfIfyIng
nbouf hor own communIcnfIons fo fho rIosf.
lln

STATI OI !O!ISIAA

CO!!T OI AIIIA!

II!ST CI!C!IT

O. 20l3 C 03l6

|IA!ITS OI MIO! CHI!]

VI!S!S

CIO!CI J. CHA!!IT, J!., ICIASI,
CHA!!IT I!I!A! HOMI, IC.,
|THI I!IIST], A THI
!OMA CATHO!IC CH!!CH OI THI
IOCISI OI IATO !O!CI
l

T@BXYA=> )A=BAHAB

* * * * * *
On AIIcnfIon for WrIf Of CorfIornrI
fo fho l9
fh
JudIcInI IsfrIcf Courf In nnd for
fho InrIsh of Insf Infon !ougo, !ouIsInnn
TrInI Courf o. 580066

l
Iocnuso fhIs mnffor donIs wIfh doIIcnfo subjocfs, nnd for
fho rofocfIon of fho nrfIos InvoIvod, fho rocord wns
sonIod bofh nf fho frInI courf nnd on nonI, oxcof for fhIs
nonI oInIon. To furfhor rofocf fho rIvncy of fho
nrfIos InvoIvod, fho nnmos hnvo boon omIffod horoIn, nnd
fho nrfIos wIII bo roforrod fo ns fho nronfs of fho mInor
chIId (InInfIff), fho mInor chIId, nnd fho rIosf
(dofondnnf).
l2n

HonornbIo !. MIchnoI CnIdwoII, Judgo
* * * * *

I!IA K. AII!S ATTO!IYS IO!
MA!K . IOYI! I!AITIIIS-!ISIOITS
IHAM SI!ICS, !A IA!ITS OI THI MIO! CHI!

O M. !ICHA! ATTO!IYS IO!
MICHAI! !. ISHAZO IIIATS-!I!ATO!S
IW O!!IAS, !A THI I!IIST A THI
!OMA CATHO!IC CH!!CH
OI THI
IOCISI OI IATO !O!CI

* * * * * *

3"(%)"Z !*))%U [.1&U *&0 !"##$2)"+U TT7

!"##$2)"+U T7
Tho dofondnnfs,fho rIosf nnd fho !omnn
CnfhoIIc Church of fho Iocoso of Insf Infon !ougo
(fho Church), sook suorvIsory rovIow of n frInI courf`s
donInI of fhoIr mofIon In IImIno, whIch hnd soughf
fo rovonf fho InInfIffs In fhIs mnffor from
monfIonIng, roforoncIng, nnd/or InfroducIng
nof hnvo fnkon Inco bofwoon InInfIffs` mInor
chIId nnd fho rIosf, whIIo fho rIosf wns ncfIng In
hIs offIcInI cnncIfy ns n Iocosnn rIosf nnd
honrIng confossIon from hIs nrIshIonor (fho mInor
chIId). Wo grnnfod corfIornrI fo nddross fho
sIgnIfIcnnf nnd ree noto Issuo undorIyIng fho
doformInnfIon of fho rorIofy of nIIowIng such
l3n

ovIdonco: whofhor fho rIosf Is n mnndnfory roorfor
undor !ouIsInnn's ChIIdron's Codo rovIsIons. In
rovIowIng fho Issuo, tie o tie fho frInI courf's wrIffon
judgmonf, for fho foIIowIng ronsons, wo fInd fhIs
mnffor comoIs us fo oxorcIso fho nufhorIfy vosfod
In us, by !n. C.C.I. nrf. 92?I, fo rnIso on our own
mofIon fho oromfory oxcofIon of no cnuso of
ncfIon, nnd grnnf snmo, In offocf, dIsmIssIng nII of
InInfIffs` cInIms ngnInsf fho rIosf nnd fho Church.
(*,#.*4 3*,[2)%.&0
On JuIy 6, 2009, InInfIffs, fho nronfs of n
mInor dnughfor, fIIod n ofIfIon for dnmngos
sufforod by fhom nnd fhoIr dnughfor ns n rosuIf of fho
nIIogod InnrorInfo nnd soxunI ncfs orofrnfod on
fho mInor chIId. Thoy nnmod ns dofondnnfs: fho
nIIogod orofrnfor, fhon-doconsod Coorgo J.
ChnrIof, Jr, (n woII-known, Iong-fImo nrIshIonor
nnd ncfIvo mombor of fho Church, who dIod on
Iobrunry 9, 2009, whIIo n crImInnI InvosfIgnfIon
Info fhoso nIIognfIons wns ondIng); ChnrIof IunornI
Homo, Inc. (of whIch Mr. ChnrIof wns fho nIIogod
IrosIdonf); fho rIosf, for nIIogodIy boIng n
mnndnfory roorfor who fnIIod fo roorf fho nbuso
nIIognfIons; nnd fho Church, nIIogIng vIcnrIous
IInbIIIfy for fho nIIogod mIsconducf of fho rIosf In
fnIIIng fo roorf fho soxunI nbuso, ns woII ns for fho
nogIIgonf frnInIng nnd suorvIsIon of fho rIosf. (Tho
InInfIffs Infor nddod n cInIm ngnInsf fho Church
nIIogIng nddIfIonnI IInbIIIfy for fho ncfs of Mr. ChnrIof,
undor fho fhoory fhnf ho, foo, wns nn omIoyoo of fho
Church nrIsh; howovor, fhoso cInIms woro Infor
dIsmIssod by summnry judgmonf.)
l4n

Tho nronfs nIIogod fhnf In 2000, fhoIr fnmIIy
movod from Infon !ougo fo CIInfon, In Insf
IoIIcInnn InrIsh, nnd bognn nffondIng Our !ndy of
fho AssumfIon CnfhoIIc Church, whoro fhoy mof
nnd bocnmo frIondIy wIfh n nrIshIonor, Mr. ChnrIof,
ns woII ns fho rIosf, fho nsfor of fho church.
AccordIng fo fho ofIfIon, from fho young ngo of
oIghf yonrs, fhrough hor ndoIosconf yonrs, fhoIr
mInor dnughfor vIowod Mr. ChnrIof ns n socond
grnndfnfhor.
Tho ofIfIon nIIogod fhnf durIng fho summor of
2008, whon fho mInor dnughfor wns nroxImnfoIy
fwoIvo yonrs oId, fhoro bognn nn oxchnngo of omnIIs
(l-2 or dny) from Mr. ChnrIof fo fho mInor chIId,
InvoIvIng words of InsIrnfIon nnd dnIIy IIbIo
vorsos. If Is nIIogod fhnf fho omnIIs soon Incronsod In
froquoncy (5-? or dny) nnd nIso bognn fnkIng on n
moro orsonnI fono, whIIo boIng Incod wIfh soducfIvo
nunncos. Mr. ChnrIof nIIogodIy foId fho mInor chIId
fo koo fho nnfuro of fhoIr omnII corrosondonco
rIvnfo nnd fo horsoIf, bocnuso no orson, ofhor fhnn
Cod, wouId undorsfnnd fhoIr mufunI fooIIngs for ono
nnofhor. Tho ofIfIon confnIns vnrIous ofhor
nrngrnhs (nono of whIch nro dIrocfIy roIovnnf fo
fho Issuo horoIn) dofnIIIng fho confInuod wrongfuI
ncfs of Mr. ChnrIof, whIch cuImInnfod wIfh kIssIng nnd
fondIIng fho mInor chIId.
2

2
Tho ncfunI roorfs mndo by fho mInor chIId woro fhnf on
sovornI occnsIons, Mr. ChnrIof kIssod hor nggrossIvoIy,
sfIckIng hIs fonguo down hor fhronf, nnd fondIod hor
bronsfs undornonfh hor shIrf nnd brn. Thoro nro nIso
socIfIc nIIognfIons nbouf n soxunIIy-Incod journnI fhnf Mr.
l5n

Tho ofIfIon nIIogod fhnf fho mInor chIId bocnmo
confusod nnd scnrod ovor fho ovoIvIng roInfIonshI
wIfh Mr. ChnrIof, nnd fhnf on fhroo sonrnfo
occnsIons, sho docIdod fo sook sIrIfunI guIdnnco
fhrough fho Sncrnmonf of !oconcIIInfIon wIfh fho
dofondnnf rIosf. Tho ofIfIon nIIogos fhnf on
Tuosdny, JuIy l5, 2008, nnd Tuosdny, JuIy 29, 2008,
rIor fo fho 6:30 .m. mnss nf fho church, ns woII ns
on nf Ionsf ono ofhor occnsIon nffor JuIy 29, 2008, fho
mInor chIId roInfod fo fho rIosf durIng hor
confossIon (fho Sncrnmonf of !oconcIIInfIon) fhnf Mr.
ChnrIof hnd InnrorInfoIy fouchod hor, kIssod hor,
nnd foId hor fhnf ho wnnfod fo mnko Iovo fo hor.
AccordIng fo fho ofIfIon, nnd consIsfonf wIfh fho
mInor chIId's subsoquonf doosIfIon fosfImony, fho
rIosf nIIogodIy rosondod fo hor fhnf sho sImIy
noodod fo hnndIo fho sIfunfIon horsoIf, bocnuso
ofhorwIso, foo mnny ooIo wouId bo hurf. Tho
mInor chIId fosfIfIod fhnf durIng ono of fhoso
confossIons, sho foId fho rIosf whnf hnd hnonod
nnd nskod for ndvIco on how fo ond If. AccordIng fo
hor doosIfIon fosfImony: Ho jusf snId, fhIs Is your
robIom. Swoo If undor fho fIoor nnd gof rId of If.
Subsoquonf fo fhoso fhroo confossIons, durIng
whIch fho mInor chIId roInyod fho soxunI ncfs by Mr.
ChnrIof fo fho rIosf, fho nbusIvo ncfs (fuIIy dofnIIod

ChnrIof wrofo durIng n frI fo Koron, dofnIIIng hIs dosIros
fhnf fho gIrI bo on fhnf frI wIfh hIm, nnd IncIudIng nn
onfry fhnf ho hnd fnkon n nnkod Icfuro of hImsoIf In fho
showor fo sond hor nf n Infor fImo. Ho nIIogodIy gnvo fho
53-ngo journnI fo fho mInor chIId uon hIs rofurn from
fhnf frI.
l6n

In fho ofIfIon) confInuod. On ono occnsIon, fho
mInor chIId docIdod sho noodod fo fnko fho ndvIco
gIvon fo hor by fho rIosf durIng fho confossIons, nnd
confronf Mr. ChnrIof In orson. Sho nffomfod fo
nrrnngo n moofIng wIfh Mr. ChnrIof nf hIs Inco of
busInoss, buf whon sho nrrIvod nf fho funornI homo,
sho wns surrIsod fo fInd no ono fhoro ofhor fhnn Mr.
ChnrIof, who fhon rocoodod fo soxunIIy nbuso hor In
hIs rIvnfo offIco. Tho mInor chIId bocnmo scnrod
ngnIn, nnd Insfond of confronfIng hIm, sho sImIy
romIndod hIm fhnf hor mofhor wouId bo fhoro shorfIy
fo Ick hor u; fo whIch ho rosondod, Wo boffor go
onf boforo I onf you u.
AccordIng fo fho nIIognfIons In fho ofIfIon nnd
fho doosIfIon fosfImony In fho rocord, subsoquonf
moofIngs woro hnd -- ono bofwoon fho rIosf nnd
Mr. nnd Mrs. ChnrIof, nnd nnofhor bofwoon fho
ChnrIofs nnd fho mInor chIId`s nronfs (fho InInfIffs)
-- concornIng fho obsossIvo numbor of omnIIs nnd
hono cnIIs bofwoon Mr. ChnrIof nnd fho mInor
chIId, nnd fho soomIng InnrorInfo cIosonoss
bofwoon fho fwo fhnf hnd boon obsorvod by vnrIous
nrIshIonors. AgnIn, nccordIng fo fho nIIognfIons In
fho ofIfIon, nffor fhoso moofIngs, Mr. ChnrIof
confncfod fho mInor chIId fo Iof hor know nbouf fho
moofIngs. Ho Informod hor fhnf ho foId fhom fhoIr
roInfIonshI wns mufunI nnd nrorInfo; fhnf ho dId
nof know If fhoy boIIovod hIm, buf ho nssurod hor ho
wouId fnko cnro of mnkIng suro ovoryono boIIovod
fhoIr roInfIonshI wns nrorInfo nnd mufunI, nnd
fhnf sho jusf noodod fo Iny fho gnmo.
Howovor, shorfIy fhoronffor, fho nronfs
l?n

confronfod fhoIr mInor dnughfor nbouf fho omnIIs nnd
hono cnIIs, nf whIch fImo, sho confossod fo fho fruo
nnfuro of fho roInfIonshI wIfh Mr. ChnrIof,
IncIudIng dofnIIs of fho InnrorInfo soxunI
confncfs. Tho InInfIffs ImmodInfoIy confncfod Mr.
ChnrIof, ordorIng hIm fo conso confncf wIfh fhoIr
dnughfor. AccordIng fo fho ofIfIon, howovor, on n
subsoquonf Sundny, fho InInfIffs wIfnossod Mr.
ChnrIof nronch fhoIr dnughfor nffor church nnd
hug hor oonIy ngnInsf hor wIII. Thoy fhon fIIod n
formnI comInInf ngnInsf Mr. ChnrIof wIfh fho Insf
IoIIcInnn InrIsh ShorIff`s onrfmonf. AccordIng fo
fho ofIfIon, fho InvosfIgnfIon wns ongoIng whon, on
Iobrunry 9, 2009, Mr. ChnrIof dIod unoxocfodIy,
nffor sufforIng n mnssIvo honrf nffnck whIIo In osf-
oornfIvo rocovory, foIIowIng knoo-roIncomonf
surgory.
*!!4$,*34" 4*+
In ordor fo fncIIIfnfo nn undorsfnndIng of fho
subsoquonf rocodurnI hIsfory nnd n dIscussIon nnd
nnnIysIs of fho Issuos rosonfod, fho Inw nIIcnbIo fo
fho nrfIos` nrgumonfs nnd rosoIufIon of fho Issuos Is
rovIdod nf fhIs juncfuro.
!ouIsInnn ChIIdron's Codo nrfIcIo 603 rovIdos
dofInIfIons nIIcnbIo fhroughouf fho TIfIo VI of fho
Codo. In roIovnnf nrf, If rovIdos, ns foIIows (wIfh
omhnsIs nddod):
As usod In fhIs TIfIo:
(l) Abuso monns nny ono of fho foIIowIng ncfs
whIch sorIousIy ondnngor fho hysIcnI, monfnI, or
omofIonnI honIfh nnd snfofy of fho chIId:
l8n

\\\
(c) Tho InvoIvomonf of fho chIId In nny
soxunI ncf wIfh n nronf or nny ofhor orson,
or fho nIdIng or foIornfIon by fho nronf or fho
cnrofnkor of fho chIId`s soxunI InvoIvomonf
wIfh nny ofhor orson or of fho chIId`s
InvoIvomonf In ornogrnhIc dIsInys, or nny
ofhor InvoIvomonf of n chIId In soxunI ncfIvIfy
consfIfufIng n crImo undor fho Inws of fhIs
sfnfo.
\\\
(l5) ]9C=BC><H^ HA_<H>AH` Is nny of fho
foIIowIng IndIvIdunIs....:
\\\
(c) Mombor of fho cIorgy Is C=^ _H?AD>,
rnbbI, duIy ordnInod cIorIcnI doncon or
mInIsfor, ChrIsfInn ScIonco rncfIfIonor, or
ofhor sImIInrIy sIfunfod funcfIonnry of n
roIIgIous orgnnIznfIon, $5.$#+ +,-+ ,$ 6&
('+ %$786%$3 +' %$#'%+ - .'(263$(+6-/
.'118(6.-+6'(9 -& 3$26($3 6( :'3$ '2
;<63$(.$ "%+6./$ =>>, from n orson fo n
mombor of fho cIorgy who, In fho courso of
fho dIscIIIno or rncfIco of fhnf church,
donomInnfIon, or orgnnIznfIon, Is nufhorIzod
or nccusfomod fo honrIng confIdonfInI
communIcnfIons, onJ unJer /le Jiecipline or
/ene/e of /le clurcl, donomInnfIon, or
orgnnIznfIon loe o Ju/, /o /eep eucl
connunico/ione confiJen/iol. In fhnf
l9n

Insfnnco, ho shnII oncourngo fhnf orson fo
roorf fho nIIognfIons fo fho nrorInfo
!ouIsInnn Codo of IvIdonco nrfIcIo 5ll, onfIfIod
communIcnfIons fo cIorgymon, whIch Is roforoncod In
fho forogoIng ChIIdron`s Codo dofInIfIons rovIsIon,
rovIdos:
*7 0Aa?=?>?<=D7 As usod In fhIs ArfIcIo:
(l) A ;FAHX^YC= Is n mInIsfor, _H?AD>, rnbbI,
ChrIsfInn ScIonco rncfIfIonor, or ofhor sImIInr
funcfIonnry of n roIIgIous orgnnIznfIon, or nn
IndIvIdunI ronsonnbIy boIIovod so fo bo by fho
(2) A ;<YY@=?;C>?<= ?D ];<=a?BA=>?CF` If If Is
noJe prito/el, onJ no/ in/enJeJ for fur/ler
Jiecloeure oxcof fo ofhor orsons rosonf In
furfhornnco of fho uroso of fho communIcnfIon.
37 2A=AHCF H@FA <a _H?I?FAXA7 A #$%&'( loe o
pritilege /o refuee /o Jiecloee onJ /o preten/
ono/ler pereon fron Jiecloeing o confiJen/iol
connunico/ion )* +,$ #$%&'( +' - ./$%0*1-( In
hIs rofossIonnI chnrncfor ns sIrIfunI ndvIsor.
,7 +J< YC^ ;FC?Y >JA _H?I?FAXA7 Tho
#%6<6/$0$ 1-* )$ ./-61$3 )* +,$ #$%&'( or by
hIs IognI rorosonfnfIvo. Tho cIorgymnn Is
rosumod fo hnvo nufhorIfy fo cInIm fho rIvIIogo
on bohnIf of fho orson or doconsod orson.
!ouIsInnn ChIIdron`s Codo nrfIcIo 609, nddrossoos
|sIc] mnndnfory, ns woII ns ormIffod, roorfIng nnd
rovIdos, In orfInonf nrf (wIfh omhnsIs nddod):
20n

A. WIfh rosocf fo mnndnfory roorfors:
(l) ?'+@6+,&+-(36(0 -(* ./-61 '2 #%6<6/$0$3
.'118(6.-+6'(9 -(* 1-(3-+'%* %$#'%+$%
who hns cnuso fo boIIovo fhnf n chIId`s hysIcnI
or monfnI honIfh or woIfnro Is ondnngorod ns n
rosuIf of nbuso or nogIocf or fhnf nbuso or
nogIocf wns n confrIbufIng fncfor In n chIId's
donfh eloll repor/ In nccordnnco wIfh ArfIcIo
6l0.
(2) Violo/ion of fho dufIos Imosod uon n
mnndnfory roorfor euIjec/e /le offenJer /o
crininol proeecu/ion nufhorIzod by !S.
l4:403(A)(l).
!ouIsInnn !ovIsod Sfnfufos l4:403, roforrod fo In
fho ChIIdron`s Codo ns fho onnIfy rovIsIon for
vIoInfIons of fho mnndnfory roorfor Inws rovIdos, In
orfInonf nrf (wIfh omhnsIs nddod):
403. Abuso of chIIdron; roorfs; wnIvor of rIvIIogo
A. (l)(n) An, pereon who, undor ClilJrenè
CoJe Ar/icle 69(A), ie requireJ /o repor/ /le
oIuee or nogIocf or soxunI nbuso of n chIId nnd
knowIngIy nnd wIIIfuIIy fnIIs fo so roorf shnII
bo guIIfy of n mIsdomonnor nnd uon
convIcfIon mny bo fInod nof moro fhnn fIvo
hundrod doIInrs or ImrIsonod for nof moro
fhnn sIx monfhs, or bofh.
***
I. In nny rocoodIng concornIng fho nbuso or
nogIocf or soxunI nbuso of n chIId or fho cnuso
of such condIfIon, etiJence no, no/ Ie excluJeJ
2ln

on on, grounJ of pritilege, $5.$#+ 6( +,$ .-&$
'2 .'118(6.-+6'(& )$+@$$( nn nffornoy nnd
hIs cIIonf or bofwoon - #%6$&+, rnbbI, duIy
ordnInod mInIsfor or ChrIsfInn ScIonco
rncfIfIonor -(3 ,6& .'118(6.-(+.
/!",$($, (*,#/U *44"2*#$%&/U *&0
!)%,"0.)*4 1$/#%)V )"Z #1" !)$"/#
*&0 #1" ,1.),1
SocIfIcnIIy, ns fo fho rIosf, fho ofIfIon nIIogos
fhnf ho wns nogIIgonf In ndvIsIng fho mInor chIId
durIng hor confossIons on fhroo sonrnfo occnsIons
fhnf sho noodod fo hnndIo fho nbusIvo roInfIonshI
wIfh Mr. ChnrIof by horsoIf bocnuso foo mnny ooIo
wouId bo hurf If fhoy found ouf. Tho ofIfIon sooks
dnmngos for fhIs nIIogod nogIIgonf ndvIsIng. Tho
ofIfIon furfhor socIfIcnIIy nIIogod fhnf fho rIosf Is
n mnndnfory roorfor ursunnf fo !n. ChIIdron`s
Codo nrf. 603(l5(c)), wIfh n rosuIfIng mnndnfory IognI
dufy, ursunnf fo !n. ChIIdron`s Codo nrf. 609, fo
roorf fho nbuso fo fho roor IocnI nufhorIfIos nnd fo
fho mInor`s nronfs. Thus, fho InInfIffs nIIogo fho
rIosf Is nIso IInbIo fo fhom for hIs fnIIuro fo
ImmodInfoIy roorf fho nbuso, nnd fhnf fho Church Is
IInbIo for fho nogIIgonco of fho rIosf ns Ifs omIoyoo,
ns woII ns Ifs own nIIogod nogIIgonco In fnIIIng fo
frnIn nnd suorvIso hIm ns n mnndnfory roorfor of
chIId nbuso.
9<>?<= $= 4?Y?=A *> $DD@A 1AHA?=
In Iobrunry 20l3, fho rIosf nnd fho Church fIIod
n mofIon In IImIno, sookIng fo oxcIudo nf frInI oll
etiJence, IncIudIng fosfImony by fho mInor chIId
22n

horsoIf, nbouf fho confossIons. Tho donInI of fhnf
mofIon Is fho subjocf of fhIs suorvIsory rovIow nnd
grnnf of corfIornrI. Howovor, fho dofondnnfs hnd nIso
fIIod n mofIon for summnry judgmonf, whIch wns
honrd nnd docIdod rIor fo fho ruIIng on fho mofIon In
IImIno. AIfhough no rovIow hns boon soughf of fho
donInI of fho mofIon for summnry judgmonf, fho
Issuos rnIsod nnd fho dofondnnfs` nrgumonfs In
suorf of fhnf mofIon nro sImIInr fo, nnd offon
ovorIn fhoso ndvnncod In suorf of fho mofIon In
IImIno. AIso, fhoy nro orfInonf fo n fuII
undorsfnndIng of fho Issuo boforo us on fho rorIofy
of fho donInI of fho mofIon In IImIno. Thoroforo, fo
fhnf oxfonf, bofh mofIons wIII bo dIscussod.
/@YYCH^ T@BXYA=>
IIrsf, dofondnnfs nrguod fhnf nny nnd nII
dnmngos sufforod by fho mInor chIId woro nf fho
hnnds of nnd duo fo ncfs of no ono ofhor fhnn Mr.
ChnrIof, nof fho rIosf. Moroovor, fhoy confondod
fhnf fho rIosf nffnInod knowIodgo of fhoso IncIdonfs
of nbuso fhrough fho Sncrnmonf of !oconcIIInfIon,
ursunnf fo whIch fhnf communIcnfIon wns cIonkod
wIfh n sfnfufory confIdonfInIIfy, ns woII ns rofocfod
ngnInsf dIscIosuro by fho CnfhoIIc Cnnon !nw. Thoy
mnInfnInod fhnf nccordIng fo !n. ChIIdron`s Codo nrf.
603(l5)(c), n rIosf Is cInssIfIod ns n mnndnfory
roorfor whon fho InformnfIon Is rocoIvod whIIo ho Is
nof orformIng hIs vocnfIonnI mInIsfry, buf fho
sfnfufo socIfIcnIIy oxcIudos fho roorfIng of
confIdonfInI communIcnfIons, ns dofInod by ArfIcIo
5ll of fho !n. Codo of IvIdonco. Thnf codnI nrfIcIo
rovIdos fhnf n communIcnfIon Is confIdonfInI whon
23n

roInyod fo n cIorgymnn whon If Is mndo In rIvnfo
nnd nof Infondod for furfhor dIscIosuro. Soo !n. C.I.
nrf. 5ll(A)(2). Thoy furfhor nrguod fhnf fho onnI
sfnfufo for fnIIIng fo roorf, !n. !.S. l4:403(I), nIso
suorfs fhoIr cInIm of rIvIIogo, by rovIdIng:
In nny rocoodIng concornIng fho nbuso or
nogIocf or soxunI nbuso of n chIId, . ovIdonco
mny nof bo oxcIudod on nny ground of
rIvIIogo, excep/ in /le coee of connunico/ione
Ie/ueen nn nffornoy nnd hIs cIIonf or Ie/ueen
o priee/ . onJ lie connunicon/.
ofondnnfs nIso nrguod fhnf fho rIosf Is bound by
fho mnndnfos of fho !omnn CnfhoIIc Church !nw
known ns fho Codo of Cnnon !nw whIch nIso
rocIudo hIm from dIvuIgIng InformnfIon ncquIrod
fhrough fho Sncrnmonf of !oconcIIInfIon. Thoy
nffnchod fo fhoIr mofIon fho nffIdnvIf of Ir. InuI
Counco, JudIcInI VIcnr nnd cnnon Inwyor for fho
Iocoso, whIch oxInInod In dofnII nnd cIfod fho Inw
of fho CnfhoIIc Church, nnd fho obIIgnfIon of
confIdonfInIIfy fhnf n rIosf hns In roInfIon fo
nnyfhIng honrd In confossIons/roconcIIInfIons, whIch
Is cIonkod by fho SonI of ConfossIon. Tho nffIdnvIf
nffosfs fhnf fho SonI Is nbsoIufo. Moroovor, n
vIoInfIon fhoroof rosuIfs In fho in e/on/er
oxcommunIcnfIon of fho rIosf fho mosf sovoro
onnIfy known fo fho Church.
Tho dofondnnfs mnInfnInod fhnf If Is undIsufod
fhnf fho onIy communIcnfIons hnd bofwoon fho mInor
chIId nnd fho rIosf concornIng fho soxunI ncfs
commIffod by Mr. ChnrIof occurrod durIng fho
Sncrnmonf of !oconcIIInfIon; fhoroforo, fo comoI fho
24n

rIosf fo dIscIoso such communIcnfIons undor fhronf
of sfnfufory onnIfIos, whofhor cIvII or crImInnI,
wouId bo fo Inco hIs dufy fo hIs fnIfh nnd hIs dufy fo
nbIdo by sfnfufory nufhorIfy Info dIrocf confIIcf. Thoy
mnInfnInod fhnf fo comoI fho rIosf fo dIscIoso such
communIcnfIons wouId onfnngIo fho Sfnfo In mnffors
of church docfrIno, ImIIcnfIng fho consfIfufIonnI
rIghf of fho froo oxorcIso of roIIgIon, rofocfod by fho
IIrsf Amondmonf.
3
Thoy cInImod fhnf fho !ouIsInnn
!ogIsInfuro rocognIzod ns much by onncfIng n
sfnfufory schomo fhnf oxomfs such communIcnfIons
for fho mnndnfory roorfIng rovIsIons In fho
ChIIdron`s Codo.
AddIfIonnIIy, fho dofondnnfs nssorfod fhnf fho
Iocoso cnnnof bo hoId IInbIo, bocnuso fho church
IfsoIf hns no dufy fo roorf, eten if fho InInfIffs`
mIsnIIgnod cInIms fhnf fho rIosf Is n mnndnfory
roorfor woro fo bo uhoId.
IInnIIy, fho dofondnnfs nssorfod fhnf fhoro Is no
rIvnfo rIghf of ncfIon ngnInsf n mnndnfory roorfor
for fho fnIIuro fo roorf; fho sfnfufory romody boIng
IImIfod fo crImInnI rosocufIon ursunnf fo !n. !.S.

3
Wo nofo fhnf fho consfIfufIonnI Issuo Is corfnInIy
ImIIcnfod In fhIs cnso. Howovor, fho nrfIos ndvIsod fhIs
courf durIng fho ornI nrgumonf fhnf In nccordnnco wIfh
fho Iong-sfnndIng jurIsrudonco fhnf rocIudos fhIs courf
from doformInIng fho consfIfufIonnIIfy of n sfnfufo unfII
nffor such doformInnfIon hns boon mndo by n frInI courf,
fhoy hnd sonrnfoIy nnd subsoquonfIy rnIsod fhnf socIfIc
Issuo nnd fhnf fhnf rocoodIng Is curronfIy ondIng In fho
frInI courf. AccordIngIy, wo nood nof nddross or docIdo
fhnf Issuo.
25n

l4:403. AIfhough fhoro Is no !ouIsInnn
jurIsrudonco, dofondnnfs cIfo sovornI cnsos from
ofhor jurIsdIcfIons wIfh sImIInr mnndnfory roorfIng
sfnfufos fhnf hnvo hoId fhnf fhoro Is no rIvnfo cnuso
of ncfIon for n vIoInfIon of such n sfnfufo fho romody
fhorofor |sIc] boIng IImIfod fo crImInnI rosocufIon by
fho sfnfo. Tho undorIyIng ronsonIng for such n
fIndIng In fhoso cnsos Is fhnf fho dufy Is owod fo fho
gonornI ubIIc for fho rofocfIon of Ifs mInor
chIIdron nnd nof fo nny ono orson In nrfIcuInr.
IInInfIffs oosod fho mofIon for summnry
judgmonf on sovornI fronfs; onIy fhoso orfInonf fo
fho mofIon In IImIno nro rosonfod horo. Thoy
nrguod wIfhouf ndmIffIng fhnf $<$( 62 fho rIosf
woro sfnfuforIIy oxomf from fho dofInIfIon nnd
obIIgnfIons of n mnndnfory roorfor, fho onIy fhIng
oxcIudod wouId bo fho knowIodgo ncquIrod by fho
rIosf durIng fho mInor chIId`s confossIon. Thoy
mnInfnInod fho ovIdonco dorIvod from Ms. ChnrIof`s
doosIfIon rovonIs fhnf sonrnfo nnd nnrf from nny
InformnfIon rocoIvod dIrocfIy from fho mInor chIId
durIng hor confossIons, fho rIosf hImsoIf hnd
IndoondonfIy obsorvod nnd dIscussod hIs concorns
nbouf fho InforncfIon bofwoon Mr. ChnrIof nnd fho
mInor chIId, nnd fhnf ho oxrossod fhoso concorns
wIfh fhom. urIng fhnf moofIng, nccordIng fo Ms.
ChnrIof`s doosIfIon, fho rIosf ndvIsod fho ChnrIofs
fo sonk wIfh fho mInor chIId`s mofhor nnd ho
ndvIsod Mr. ChnrIof fo ond hIs frIondshI wIfh fho
mInor chIId. Thus, fo fho oxfonf fhnf fho rIosf
IndoondonfIy obsorvod nnd voIcod concorns nbouf
soomIngIy InnrorInfo roInfIons bofwoon Mr.
ChnrIof nnd fho mInor chIId, InInfIffs nrguod fhnf ho
26n

Indood JiJ hnvo fho sfnfufory dufy ns n mnndnfory
roorfor, sInco fhIs InformnfIon wns ncquIrod oufsIdo
fho confIdonfInI communIcnfIon, nnd Is nof cIonkod
wIfh fho rIvIIogo of n confIdonfInI communIcnfIon.
Thus, InInfIffs mnInfnInod, n gonuIno Issuo of
mnforInI fncf oxIsfs ns fo whofhor, fo fhIs oxfonf, fho
rIosf wns n mnndnfory roorfor undor !n. ChIIdron`s
Codo nrfs. 603 nnd 609, such fhnf summnry judgmonf
Is rocIudod.
IInInfIffs nddIfIonnIIy mnInfnInod fhnf nny
rIvIIogo nffnchIng fo fho confossIonnI
communIcnfIons hnd boon wnIvod by fho mInor chIId,
fho hoIdor of fho rIvIIogo, by nnd fhrough hor
consonf nnd dIscIosuro of fho communIcnfIons. Thoy
nIso submIffod nn nffIdnvIf oxocufod by fhom nnd fho
mInor chIId, oxrossIy wnIvIng hor rIvIIogo
rognrdIng hor confossIon.
IInnIIy, InInfIffs dIsufod ho dofondnnfs` cInIm
fhnf roorfIng fho InformnfIon wns ngnInsf CnfhoIIc
Cnnon !nw, nnd ovon nrguod fhnf ursunnf fo
CnfhoIIc Cnnon !nw, fho rIosf hnd n dufy fo roorf
fho nbuso, nnd fho Church Is vIcnrIousIy IInbIo for fho
rIosf`s bronch of fhnf dufy. In suorf of fhIs
osIfIon, InInfIffs submIffod Info ovIdonco roIovnnf
orfIons of fho Codo of IfhIcs nnd IohnvIor for
AduIfs who MInIsfor wIfh MInors In fho Iocoso of
Infon !ougo (Iocosnn Codo of IfhIcs) nnd
guIdoIInos rognrdIng soxunI nbuso of chIIdron.
Howovor, ns wIII bo soon boIow, our uIfImnfo Issuo
obvInfos dIscussIon of fhIs nrgumonf, nnd no furfhor
oxInnnfIon of InInfIff`s nrgumonf Is nocossnry.
2?n

In donyIng fho mofIon for summnry judgmonf, ns
fo fho rIosf`s dufy fo roorf, fho frInI courf oxrossIy
found gonuIno Issuos of mnforInI fncf ns fo whnf fho
rIosf know, whon ho know If, whon ho gof fhnf
InformnfIon, If fhnf InformnfIon wns ncquIrod
somohow ofhor fhnn durIng fho confossIon, nnd
uIfImnfoIy, whnf dufy fho rIosf mny hnvo hnd nf
fhnf oInf. Tho frInI courf nofod somo of fho fncfunI
Issuos IndIcnfod fhnf fhoro mny hnvo boon somo sorf
of dufy on fho nrf of fho rIosf for whnf ho obsorvod
nnd uon whIch ho commonfod oufsIdo of fho
confossIonnI nnd oufsIdo of whnf |fho mInor chIId]
mny hnvo foId hIm In fho confossIonnI. Howovor, fho
frInI courf nIso nddod:
So I hnvo mndo my osIfIon orfocfIy cIonr
fhnf whIIo fho Inw mny gIvo fho InInfIffs fho
rIghf fo InquIro ns fo whnf wonf on In fhnf
confossIonnI, I`m nof goIng fo hoId |fho rIosf]
fo nny sfnndnrd of hnvIng fo sny whnf wonf on
nnd fo vIoInfo hIs vows fo fho Church. Iuf I
boIIovo fhoro nro corfnIn fncfunI Issuos of
fhIngs fhnf ho obsorvod oufsIdo fho
confossIonnI whIch couId concoIvnbIy cronfo n
dufy on hIs nrf fo hnvo fnkon moro ncfIon
fhnn ho fook.
Thus, whIIo fho frInI courf JenieJ fho mofIon for
summnry judgmonf on fho fnIIuro fo roorf Issuo, If Is
cIonr fhnf fho ruIIng oncomnssod n fIndIng fhnf fho
confossIon IfsoIf wns confIdonfInI nnd rofocfod from
dIscIosuro.

28n

0A=?CF <a 9<>?<= ?= 4?Y?=A
In donyIng fho dofondnnfs` mofIon In IImIno,
fhoroby nIIowIng fho InInfIffs fo rosonf ovIdonco of
fho confossIon, fho frInI courf nofod fho nnronf
InconsIsfoncy In fho ChIIdron`s Codo nrfIcIos: ono
rovIsIon sfnfIng fhnf cIorgy Is oxcofod from boIng n
mnndnfory roorfor for nnyfhIng fhnf Is n
confIdonfInI communIcnfIon (Arf. 603(l5)(c)), nnd fho
ofhor mnndnfIng roorfIng nofwIfhsfnndIng nny
cInIm of rIvIIogod communIcnfIon (Arf. 609).
Howovor, fho courf fhon nofod fhnf fho rIvIIogo,
grnnfod by Codo of IvIdonco Arf. 5ll, cIonrIy boIongs
fo fho communIcnnf, such fhnf If cnn bo wnIvod by
fho communIcnnf. Thus, fho frInI courf found fho
fosfImony of fho mInor chIId rognrdIng fho
confossIons wns roIovnnf nnd, corfnInIy, ns fho hoIdor
of fho rIvIIogo, sho wns onfIfIod fo wnIvo If nnd
fosfIfy. Whon rossod by fho dofondnnfs` counsoI ns
fo whofhor fhnf monnf fhnf fho frInI courf wns
hoIdIng fhnf fho rIosf nIso hnd n dufy fo roorf, fho
frInI courf sfnfod, Yos, nf fhIs oInf, fhoro mny bo
somo dufy bnsod on |Arf.] 609. Tho frInI courf nIso
nofod fhnf Ifs onrIIor ruIIng nIso ormIffod
quosfIonIng of fho rIosf concornIng nny ofhor
InformnfIon ncquIrod by hIm nbouf fho nbuso oufsIdo
of fho confossIonnI. Tho frInI courf, nIfhough donyIng
fho mofIon, nIso commonfod fhnf I corfnInIy
rocognIzo fho conundrum wIfh whIch |fho rIosf] Is
rosonfod, nnd I know hIs soIufIon fo fhnf Is goIng fo
bo fhnf ho Is nof goIng fo sny nnyfhIng nbouf nny
confossIon. Tho mofIon In IImIno wns donIod by
judgmonf dnfod Iobrunry 22, 20l3.
29n

0$/,.//$%&b*&*4V/$/
$/ * !)$"/# * 9*&0*#%)V )"!%)#")
!.)/.*&# #% 4%.$/$*&*c/
,1$40)"&c/ ,%0"d
Tho nrfIos mnInfnIn nnd nrguo fhnf fho IvofnI
Issuo undorIyIng fho dIsufo of whofhor fho mofIon In
IImIno wns roorIy donIod, nIIowIng ovIdonco fo bo
submIffod concornIng fho occurronco nnd/or confonfs
of n confossIon bofwoon fho mInor dnughfor nnd fho
rIosf Is whofhor n CnfhoIIc rIosf or nny mombor
of fho cIorgy Is oxomf from !ouIsInnn ChIIdron`s
Codo nrf. 609`s mnndnfory chIId nbuso roorfIng
roquIromonfs, ursunnf fo !n. ChIId. Codo nrf.
603(l5)(c), whon fho fncfs nIIogodIy gIvIng rIso fo fho
dufy fo roorf woro Ionrnod durIng fho Sncrnmonf of
!oconcIIInfIon.
ofondnnfs mnInfnIn fhnf undor fho fncfs of fhIs
cnso, fho rIosf Is oxomf from fho mnndnfory
roorfor roquIromonfs. Thus, fhoy nssorf fhnf fho
rIosf Is shIoIdod from hnvIng fo fosfIfy ns fo nny
fncfs Ionrnod durIng fhnf confossIon. Moroovor, fhoy
mnInfnIn fhnf sInco fho rIosf hns no dufy fo roorf,
fhoro cnn bo no bronch of snId dufy, rondorIng on,
onJ oll fosfImony or ovIdonco rognrdIng fho
Sncrnmonf of !oconcIIInfIon nnd/or fho confonfs
rovonIod fhoroIn IrroIovnnf fo fho urorfod cnuso of
ncfIon by InInfIffs ngnInsf fho rIosf nnd fho Church
for fho bronch of snId dufy. Ior fho foIIowIng ronsons,
wo ngroo, nnd fInd fho frInI courf orrod.

30n

)@FAD <a />C>@><H^ ,<=D>H@;>?<=b$=>AH_HA>C>?<=
Vory roconfIy, fho !ouIsInnn Suromo Courf
roIfornfod fho ruIos fhnf nIy whon doformInIng fho
fruo monnIng of n sfnfufo:
Tho fundnmonfnI quosfIon In nII cnsos of
sfnfufory InforrofnfIon Is IogIsInfIvo Infonf
nnd fho nscorfnInmonf of fho ronson or ronsons
fhnf romfod fho IogIsInfuro fo onncf fho Inw.
1n re. Succeeeion of Bo,/er, 99-0?6l, . 9 (!n.
l/?/00), ?56 So.2d ll22, ll28. Tho ruIos of
sfnfufory consfrucfIon nro dosIgnod fo
nscorfnIn nnd onforco fho Infonf of fho
IogIsInfuro. 1J., S/ogner t. S/oner, 98-3044, .
5 (!n. ?/?/99), ?39 So.2d ?62, ?66. !ogIsInfIon
Is fho soIomn oxrossIon of IogIsInfIvo wIII, nnd
fhoroforo, InforrofnfIon of n Inw InvoIvos
rImnrIIy n sonrch for fho IogIsInfuro`s Infonf.
!n.!ov.Sfnf. l:4 (2004); !n. CIv.Codo nrf. 2;
Loc/e// t. S/o/e, Dep/. of Tronep. AnJ
Detelopnen/, 03-l?6?, . 3 (!n. 2/25/04), 869
So.2d 8?, 90. Whon n Inw Is cIonr nnd
unnmbIguous nnd Ifs nIIcnfIon doos nof Iond
fo nbsurd consoquoncos, fho Inw shnII bo
nIIod ns wrIffon nnd no furfhor
InforrofnfIon mny bo mndo In sonrch of fho
Infonf of fho IogIsInfuro. !n. CIv.Codo nrf. 9;
Loc/e//, 03-l?6? nf . 3, 869 So.2d nf 90-9l;
Conerl, t. S/o/e, 9?-08?l, . 3-4 (!n. ?/8/98),
?l4 So.2d ?09, ?l0-ll.
Tho monnIng nnd Infonf of n Inw Is
doformInod by consIdorIng fho Inw In Ifs
onfIrofy nnd nII ofhor Inws on fho snmo subjocf
3ln

mnffor nnd IncIng n consfrucfIon on fho
rovIsIon In quosfIon fhnf Is consIsfonf wIfh
fho oxross forms of fho Inw nnd wIfh fho
obvIous Infonf of fho IogIsInfuro In onncfIng If.
Bo,/er, 99-0?6l nf . 9, ?56 So.2d nf ll29;
S/ogner, 98-3044 nf . 5, ?39 So.2d nf ?66.
Tho sfnfufo musf, fhoroforo, bo nIIod nnd
Inforrofod In n mnnnor fhnf Is consIsfonf wIfh
IogIc nnd fho rosumod fnIr uroso nnd
InfonfIon of fho IogIsInfuro In nssIng If.
Bo,/er, 99-0?6l nf . 9, ?56 So.2d nf ll29.
ThIs Is bocnuso fho ruIos of sfnfufory
consfrucfIon roquIro fhnf fho gonornI Infonf
nnd uroso of fho IogIsInfuro In onncfIng fho
Inw musf, If ossIbIo, bo gIvon offocf. 1J.,
Boc/lue t. Tronei/ Coe. Co., 549 So.2d 283,
289 (!n. l989). If Is rosumod fho Infonf of
fho IogIsInfuro Is fo nchIovo n consIsfonf body
of Inw. S/ogner, 98-3044 nf . 5, ?39 So.2d nf
?66.
!n. CIv. Codo nrf. l3 rovIdos fhnf, whoro
fwo sfnfufos donI wIfh fho snmo subjocf
mnffor, fhoy shouId bo hnrmonIzod If ossIbIo.
KenneJ, t. KenneJ,, 96-0?32, 96-0?4l, . 2
(!n. ll/25/96), 699 So.2d 35l, 358 (on
rohonrIng). If Is n woII-soffIod ruIo of
sfnfufory consfrucfIon fhnf nII Inws donIIng
wIfh fho snmo subjocf mnffor musf bo
consfruod in pori no/erio. !n. CIv.Codo nrf.
l? |(l8?0)]; IeeJ t. Woeling/on Poriel Police
Jur,, 5l8 So.2d l044, l04? (!n. l988).
Sfnfufos nro in pori no/eriol |sIc] orfnIn fo
fho snmo subjocf mnffor whon fhoy roInfo fo
32n

fho snmo orson or fhIng, fo fho snmo cInss of
orsons or fhIngs, or hnvo fho snmo uroso or
objocf. 2I SufhorInnd Sfnf. Consf. 5l:3, .
222 (?
fh
od. 20l2).
!<;?CDe I7 9<DAFA^, 20l3-0262 (!n. 6/28/l3),
___So.3d___, 20l3 W! 328?l25 (20l3).
CuIdod by fhoso rocofs, wo fInd ns foIIows.
Iursunnf fo fho cIonr Inngungo of !n. ChIId. Codo
nrf. 603(l5)(c), n mombor of fho cIorgy, whIch
IncIudos n rIosf, 6& ('+ %$786%$3 fo roorf n
confIdonfInI communIcnfIon oe JefineJ in /le CoJe
of 1tiJence Ar/icle 11. Ae JefineJ in Ar/. 11, n
communIcnfIon mndo fo n cIorgymnn Is confIdonfInI
whon If Is mndo rIvnfoIy nnd nof Infondod for
furfhor dIscIosuro. Thus, nny communIcnfIon hnd
bofwoon fho mInor chIId nnd fho rIosf, durIng fho
mInor chIId`s confossIon wIfh fhnf rIosf, Is n
confIdonfInI communIcnfIon, undor !n. C.I. nrf. 5ll.
If Is nIso oqunIIy cIonr fhnf nny nIIogod confossIon
bofwoon fho mInor chIId nnd fho rIosf In fhIs cnso Is
n confIdonfInI communIcnfIon ns dofInod In ArfIcIo
5ll. To fho oxfonf fhnf fho InInfIffs |sIc] nffomf fo
ImIy fhnf fho mInor chIId`s convorsnfIon wIfh fho
rIosf In fhIs cnso wns nof fruIy n confossIon,
bocnuso sho wns nof confossIng hor own sIn In fho
courso of roInyIng fho nIIogod nbuso, wo rojocf such
nrgumonf ns nof suorfod by fho fncfs. Wo furfhor
nofo fhnf fhIs nrgumonf Is boIIod by fho InInfIffs`
own nIIognfIons In fhoIr ofIfIon nnd ofhorwIso, nnd
fho fncf fhnf fho mInor chIId choso fo dIscIoso fho
nbuso fo fho rIosf durIng fho Sncrnmonf of
!oconcIIInfIon. Wo nofo fhnf ovon fho mInor chIId, In
33n

hor doosIfIon, fosfIfIod fhnf sho wns undor fho cIonr
ImrossIon fhnf sho wns goIng fo confossIon whon
sho soko wIfh fho rIosf nbouf fho nIIogod nbuso.
Thoroforo, fho rocord cIonrIy osfnbIIshod fhnf fho
communIcnfIon wns hnd whIIo In confossIon;
fhoroforo, If Is sfnfuforIIy dofInod fo bo n confIdonfInI
communIcnfIon.
CIvon fhnf fho communIcnfIon shnrod durIng
confossIon Is n confIdonfInI communIcnfIon mndo fo n
cIorgymnn, ursunnf fo fho dIcfnfos of !n. ChIId.
Codo nrf. 603(l5)(c), fho rIosf 6& ('+ %$786%$3 +'
%$#'%+ fho communIcnfIon, ovon If If concorns
nIIognfIons of soxunI nbuso of n chIId. Thoroforo, If Is
nxIomnfIc fhnf fho rIosf, undor fhoso cIrcumsfnncos,
Is nof, nnd cnnnof bo, n mnndnfory roorfor.
AccordIngIy, !n. ChIId. Codo nrf. 609, whIch
nddrossos mnndnfory roorfors, nnd mnndnfos fho
roorfIng of nny chIId nbuso or nogIocf,
|n]ofwIfhsfnndIng nny cInIm of rIvIIogod
communIcnfIon, Is sImIy nnd whoIIy InnIIcnbIo.
To Inforrof Arf. 609 ns nIIcnbIo fo rIosfs ns
mnndnfory roorfors, ns nrguod by fho InInfIffs, nnd
nnronfIy ns found by fho frInI courf, runs nfouI of
fho ruIos of sfnfufory consfrucfIon, bocnuso such
InforrofnfIon wouId rondor fho oxomfIon In !n.
Ch.C. nrf. 603(l5)(c) monnIngIoss. ovorfhoIoss, n
vIoInfIon of fho dufy fo roorf sof forfh In !n.
ChIIdron`s Codo nrf. 609(A)(l) Is subjocf onIy fo
crImInnI rosocufIon nufhorIzod by !n. !.S.
l4:403(A)(l); howovor, fho onnIfy for such n
vIoInfIon Is nognfod by !n. !.S. l4:403(I) whon fho
communIcnfIon Is bofwoon n rIosf nnd hIs
communIcnnf.
34n

In nddIfIon fo comorfIng wIfh fho
nforomonfIonod rIncIIos of sfnfufory consfrucfIon,
wo fInd furfhor suorf for our concIusIon fhnf fho
ChIIdron`s Codo doos nof rondor n rIosf n mnndnfory
roorfor by rovIowIng fho IogIsInfIvo hIsfory of fho
sfnfufory schomo for mnndnfory roorfIng nnd
dIscornIng fho IogIsInfIvo Infonf. Mombor of fho
cIorgy wns nddod ns n cInss of mnndnfory roorfors
by nmondmonf fo !n. ChIId. Codo nrf. 603, In 2003,
nddIng fhom fo fho IIsf of dofInod mnndnfory
roorfors. Tho dofInIfIon, ns sfnfod boforo, IncIudos
fhnf n rIosf 6& ('+ %$786%$3 +' %$#'%+ -
.'(263$(+6-/ .'118(6.-+6'(. Tho 2003 commonfs
fo fhnf nrfIcIo nddross fho ronsons for fho
nmondmonf, nnd fho IImIfnfIons fhnf woro Infondod,
ns foIIows:
Tho scoo of fho dofInIfIon of mnndnfory
roorfors of chIId nbuso hns nIwnys
rocognIzod fho rIosfs, rnbbIs, nsfors or ofhor
roIIgIous mInIsfors fyIcnIIy rovIdo
counsoIIng fo mombors of fhoIr congrognfIons
onJ /lo/ non, Jenonino/ione coneiJer /loee
connunico/ione, eucl oe /le confeeeionol, /o Ie
eocroeonc/ onJ nonJiecloeoIle. !osocfIng
fhnf oIIcy, formor Inw IncIudod roIIgIous
mInIsfors wIfhIn fho cnfogory of monfnI
honIfh/socInI sorvIco rncfIfIonor buf
oxomfod fhom from mnndnfory roorfIng If
fho knowIodgo of nbuso or nogIocf nroso ouf of
n confossIon or ofhor sncrod communIcnfIon.
1n 2003, /le legielo/ure creo/eJ o epeciol
co/egor, for nenIere of /le clerg, onJ
con/inueJ exenp/ion for confiJen/iol
35n

connunico/ion, /le /ern ueeJ I, /le 1tiJence
CoJe. CoJe of 1tiJence Ar/icle 11, whIch
govorns communIcnfIons fo cIorgymon, dofInos
fho rIvIIogod confIdonfInI communIcnfIon ns
ono mndo rIvnfoIy nnd nof Infondod for
furfhor dIscIosuro oxcof fo ofhor orsons
rosonf In furfhornnco of fho uroso of fho
communIcnfIon. Mombors of fho cIorgy who
oxcIusIvoIy rovIdo sIrIfunI counsoIIng nro
nof roquIrod fo roorf dIscIosuros of nbuso
mndo In fho courso of n confIdonfInI
communIcnfIon. Howovor, fho IogIsInfuro nIso
rocognIzod fhnf mombors of fho cIorgy mny
nIso ongngo In ofhor roIos, such ns
ndmInIsfrnfIvo nnd orgnnIznfIonnI work ns
woII ns rovIdo suorvIsIon for ofhor cIorgy or
Iny workors. Tle exenp/ion fron repor/ing
Joee no/ ex/enJ /o nonconfiJen/iol
connunico/ione giten /o o priee/ or o/ler
ninie/er Juring oJninie/ro/ite, eupertieor,, or
eeculor couneeling or o/ler /,pe of conference.
!n. ChIIdron`s Codo nrf. 603, 2003 Commonfs
(ImhnsIs nddod.) Thus, If wns cIonrIy onvIsIonod
nnd Infondod fhnf mombors of fho cIorgy woro fo bo
gIvon n socInI oxomfIon, vIn fho oxcIusIon of
confIdonfInI communIcnfIons ns dofInod In Codo of
IvIdonco nrf. 5ll, unIIko ofhor mnndnfory roorfors,
ursunnf fo !n. Ch.C. nrf. 609, who mny nIso ossoss
communIcnfIon rIvIIogos, such ns hysIcInns,
sychoIogIsfs, nnd ofhor monfnI honIfh/socInI sorvIco
rncfIfIonors, buf who musf nonofhoIoss, roorf.
36n

Thus, If nonrs nxIomnfIc fhnf n rIosf who
Ionrns of nIIogod soxunI nbuso durIng confossIon
(Sncrnmonf of !oconcIIInfIon) Is nof n mnndnfory
roorfor, nnd fhoroforo, nof subjocf fo fho mnndnfory
roorfIng roquIromonfs of !n. Ch.C. nrf. 609.
4

Iocnuso wo hnvo concIudod fhnf fho rIosf Is nof n
mnndnfory roorfor, fhoro cnn bo no rIvnfo or cIvII
cnuso of ncfIon ngnInsf hIm for nny bronch of n
sfnfufo InnIIcnbIo fo hIm; fhus, nny ovIdonco or
fosfImony, by nnyono, rognrdIng fho occurronco of n
confossIon, or fho subjocf mnffor fhoroof, Is whoIIy
InndmIssIbIo, IrroIovnnf, nnd non-robnfIvo.
AccordIngIy, fho mofIon In IImIno, sookIng fo oxcIudo
nII such ovIdonco, shouId hnvo boon grnnfod. Wo fInd
fho frInI courf orrod, nnd horoby, rovorso fhnf donInI,
nnd grnnf snId mofIon.

4
Wo nofo fhnf fho rocord nIso confnIns ovIdonco cIonrIy
osfnbIIshIng fhnf fho confIdonfInIIfy owod fo nII
communIcnfIons hnd durIng n confossIon Is nIso IncIudod
In fho mnndnfos of fho !omnn CnfhoIIc Church Inw,
known ns fho Codo of Cnnon !nw, ursunnf fo whIch n
rIosf Is rocIudod from dIvuIgIng InformnfIon ncquIrod
fhrough fho Sncrnmonf of !oconcIIInfIon. Tho
confIdonfInIIfy nffnchod fo such InformnfIon Is cIonkod by
fho SonI of ConfossIon, whIch Is nbsoIufo, nnd n vIoInfIon
fhoroof rosuIfs In fho in e/on/er oxcommunIcnfIon of fho
rIosf -- fho mosf sovoro onnIfy known fo fho Church.
Iocnuso wo hnvo found fhnf fho rIosf Is nof n mnndnfory
roorfor undor fho !ouIsInnn CIvII !nw, wo nro noIfhor
fncod wIfh nor nood fo docIdo whofhor nny such Inw whIch
mny mnndnfo roorfIng Is In confIIcf wIfh fho IIrsf
Amondmonf`s ConsfIfufIonnI mnndnfo of sonrnfIon
bofwoon Church nnd Sfnfo.
3?n

&% ,*./" %( *,#$%&
Howovor, nnd moro sIgnIfIcnnfIy, wo nro
comoIIod In fhIs mnffor fo oxorcIso fho nufhorIfy
grnnfod us undor !n. C.C.I. nrf. 92?I fo nofIco, on
our own mofIon, fho oromfory oxcofIon of no
cnuso of ncfIon, grnnf fho snmo, nnd dIsmIss fho
InInfIffs` suIf ngnInsf fho rIosf nnd fho Church In
Ifs onfIrofy.
In consIdorIng whofhor n ofIfIon sfnfos n cnuso of
ncfIon, n courf musf nccof nII woII-Iondod fncfs In
fho ofIfIon ns fruo. Tho funcfIon of fho oxcofIon of
no cnuso of ncfIon Is fo fosf fho IognI suffIcIoncy of fho
ofIfIon by doformInIng whofhor fho Inw nffords n
romody on fho fncfs of fho IondIng. "IC=D I7
4<@?D?C=C 3B7 <a !CH<FA, 20l2-2053 (!n. A. l
CIr. 6/?/l3) (unubIIshod).
&AXF?XA=> *BI?D?=X
In nddIfIon fo nIIogIng fhnf fho rIosf bronchod n
urorfod dufy fo roorf (whIch wo hnvo found fo
Inck morIf bocnuso n rIosf undor fho fncfs of fhIs
cnso Is nof n mnndnfory roorfor), fho InInfIffs`
ofIfIon nIIogos fhnf fho rIosf wns nogIIgonf In fho
ndvIco ho gnvo fho chIId durIng confossIon.
IIrsf, wo nofo fhnf fho InInfIffs cIfo no bnsIs, nor
do wo know of nny undor !ouIsInnn Inw, for ImosIng
n dufy on n cIorgy mombor, fho bronch of whIch
wouId susfnIn n rIvnfo or cIvII cnuso or ncfIon. Wo
nofo fhnf n cnuso of ncfIon In mnIrncfIco Is nvnIInbIo
ngnInsf n hysIcInn or ofhor monfnI honIfh or socInI
sorvIco rovIdor, whIch mny IncIudo oIomonfs of
nogIIgonf ndvIco; howovor, fhnf dufy omnnnfos from
38n

fho rofossIonnI skIIIs nnd frnInIng nnd dIsonsnfIon
of monfnI honIfh sorvIcos nnd Is ndjudgod by fho
sfnndnrd of cnro osfnbIIshod wIfhIn fhnf rofossIon.
AddIfIonnIIy, nny such nIIogod nogIIgonf ndvIco
In fhIs mnffor occurrod durIng fho Sncrnmonf of
!oconcIIInfIon, whIch wo hnvo nIrondy found fo bo n
confIdonfInI communIcnfIon, fho dIscIosuro of whIch
Is rohIbIfod. Iurfhormoro, fho gIvIng of ndvIco,
IncIudIng fho nIIogodIy nogIIgonf sIrIfunI ndvIco In
fhIs mnffor, Is by dofInIfIon, voIunfnry suggosfIons
bnsod on orsonnI oInIon, gIvon bnsod on fho fncfs
wIfh whIch ono Is rosonfod, In nn offorf fo guIdo nnd
dIrocf nnofhor`s docIsIons, ncfIons, or fhoughfs. Such
ndvIco doos nof Iond fo ImosIfIon of n dufy whIch
wouId bo ImossIbIo fo dIcfnfo, nnd much moro so fo
monIfor nnd ndjudgo. SIrIfunI ndvIco Is nIso
subjocfIvo nf bosf nnd nof suscofIbIo of boIng
ndjudgod wrong or rIghf. Indood, ns nofod by fho
socond cIrcuIf In 4C== I7 0CI?D, 34-892 (!n. A. 2
CIr. 8/22/0l), ?93 So.2d 463, n cnso In cIorgy
mnIrncfIco, bnsod on nIIognfIons fhnf n nsfor
nogIIgonfIy rovonIod orsonnI nnd confIdonfInI
InformnfIon fhnf wns dIscIosod durIng rIvnfo
sIrIfunI counsoIIng, In uhoIdIng fho susfnInIng of
nn oxcofIon of no cnuso of ncfIon:
A nsfor who rovIdos counsoIIng sorvIcos
usunIIy doos so undor fho nogIs of hIs church,
nnd Is nof subjocfod fo fho snmo sfnndnrds ns
n sfnfo-IIconsod sychInfrIsf or socInI workor.
IsfIncfIvoIy fnIfh-bnsod roIIgIous rIncIIos
mny guIdo nsfornI counsoIIng; courfs
fhoroforo nbsfnIn from ruIIng on such
39n

counsoIIng, Iosf fhoy cronfo nn oxcossIvo
onfnngIomonf whIch Is rohIbIfod by fho IIrsf
Amondmonf. In shorf, courfs hnvo no rIghf fo
Inforrof roIIgIous docfrInos.
1J. nf . 4; ?93 So.2d nf 466.
,C@DA <a *;>?<= a<H 3HAC;J <a 9C=BC><H^
)A_<H>AH !H<I?D?<=Dd
Moroovor, nnd moro sIgnIfIcnnfIy, wo fInd If
Imorfnnf fo nofo fhnf eten if wo found fho rIosf In
fhIs mnffor fo bo n mnndnfory roorfor, fhoro Is no
cIvII cnuso of ncfIon nnd no cIvII romody for nny
nIIogod vIoInfIon of fhnf sfnfufo.
!ouIsInnn ChIIdron`s Codo nrf. 609A(2) cIonrIy
nnd oxrossIy rovIdos: VIoInfIon of fho dufIos
Imosod uon n mnndnfory roorfor subjocfs fho
offondor fo crImInnI rosocufIon nufhorIzod by !.S.
l4:403(A)(l). !ouIsInnn !ovIsod Sfnfufos, TIfIo l4,
Is n crImInnI sfnfufo. SocIfIcnIIy, !n. !.S.
l4:403(A)(l) rovIdos fhnf nnyono who knowIngIy
nnd wIIIfuIIy fnIIs fo roorf (If roquIrod fo do so undor
!n. Ch.C. nrf. 609) shnII, uon convIcfIon, bo fInod
nof moro fhnn fIvo hundrod doIInrs or ImrIsonod for
nof moro fhnn sIx monfhs, or bofh. Thoro nro no cIvII
romodIos rovIdod In fho onfIro sfnfufory schomo.
AccordIngIy, wo fInd fhoro Is no cIvII romody, nnd
fhoroforo, no cIvII cnuso of ncfIon for nn nIIogod
bronch of fho mnndnfory roorfor dufy fo roorf.
Thnf romody Is oxrossIy doIognfod fo crImInnI Inw
onforcomonf. Soo (<=>A=<> I7 9C=_<GAH
Q9<>?IC>?<=RU "B@;7 C=B #HC?=?=XU $=;7, 594 So.2d
998, 999-l000 (!n. A. 3 CIr. l992), whoro fho frInI
40n

courf`s judgmonf susfnInIng fho dofondnnfs`
oxcofIon of no cnuso of ncfIon nnd dIsmIssIng fho
suIf, ruIIng InInfIffs hnvo no cIvII romody undor !n.
!.S. 23:l69l, whIch Is n crImInnI sfnfufo, wns
nffIrmod. Cf. [AFFAH I7 *^Y<=B, 98-843 (!n. A. 3
CIr. l2/23/98), ?22 So.2d l224, l22?, wrIfs donIod,
99-0l99 nnd 99-02l9 (!n. 4/l/99), ?42 So.2d 55l nnd
552, corf donIod, 528 !.S. 963, l20 S.Cf. 39?, l45
!.Id.2d 3l0 (l999), whoro fho courf hoId fhnf fho
IIocfronIc SurvoIIInnco Acf, !n. !.S. l5:l30l of
soquIfur, rovIdos socIfIc romodIos In fho form of
crImInnI fInos nnd ImrIsonmonf for fho wIIIfuI
InforcofIon, dIscIosuro, nnd uso of fho
communIcnfIon, onJ oleo rovIdos socIfIc cIvII
romodIos In fho form of monofnry dnmngos, IncIudIng
nffornoy foos nnd unIfIvo dnmngos, ngnInsf nny
orson who Inforcofs, dIscIosos, or usos such
InformnfIon. o such cIvII romodIos nro rovIdod In
fhIs mnffor.
,%&,4./$%&
Thoroforo, fo fho oxfonf fhnf fho frInI courf`s
ruIIng Ioff romnInIng nny cnuso of ncfIon ngnInsf fho
rIosf, for nny roorfnbIo InformnfIon fo whIch ho
mny hnvo boon rIvy oufsIdo of fho confossIonnI, fho
judgmonf Is horoby rovorsod.
Ior fho forogoIng ronsons, wo horoby rnIso nnd
grnnf fho oromfory oxcofIon of no cnuso of ncfIon,
bnsod on our rovIow of fho ofIfIon nnd fho nbsonco
of nny nIIognfIons suorfIng n vInbIo cIvII cnuso of
ncfIon ngnInsf fho rIosf nnd/or fho Church In fhIs
mnffor. AccordIngIy, fho InInfIffs` cInIms ngnInsf
fho dofondnnfs/roInfors, fho rIosf nnd fho Church,
4ln

nro horoby dIsmIssod In fhoIr onfIrofy, wIfh
rojudIco. Cosfs of fhIs grnnf of corfIornrI nro
nssossod fo fho InInfIffs.
#1" #)$*4 ,%.)#c/ T.029"&# %& #1"
9%#$%& $& 4$9$&" $/ )"S")/"0U *&0 #1"
9%#$%& $& 4$9$&" $/ 1")"3V 2)*&#"0W
!")"9!#%)V "f,"!#$%& %( &% ,*./" %(
*,#$%& )*$/"0 *&0 2)*&#"0W
!4*$&#$((/c ,4*$9/ *2*$&/# #1"
0"("&0*&#/b)"4*#%)/U #1" !)$"/# *&0
#1" ,1.),1U *)" 1")"3V 0$/9$//"07

42n

|IA!ITS OI MIO!
CHI!]
STATI OI !O!ISIAA

VI!S!S CO!!T OI AIIIA!

CIO!CI J. CHA!!IT,
J!., ICIASI
II!ST CI!C!IT
CHA!!IT I!I!A!
HOMI, |THI I!IIST],
20l3 CW 03l6
A THI !OMA
CATHO!IC CH!!CH
OI THI IOCISI OI
IATO !O!CI

K!H, J., concurrIng.
ThIs cnso rosonfs n quosfIon consIdorod boforo In
!A<_FA I7 !J?F?_D (.Y. Cf. Con. Soss. l8l3), I.o.,
whofhor n !omnn CnfhoIIc IrIosf cnn In nny cnso bo
jusfIfInbIo In rovonIIng fho socrofs of n sncrnmonfnI
confossIon In fhnf Inndmnrk cnso, nddrossIng
froodom of roIIgIon nnd fho rIosf-onIfonf
ovIdonfInry rIvIIogo, dofondnnf IhIIIIs nnd hIs wIfo
woro IndIcfod for n mIsdomonnor of rocoIvIng sfoIon
goods. !on boIng quosfIonod by fho nufhorIfIos, fho
orson whoso roorfy hnd boon sfoIon roorfod fhnf
ho hnd rocoIvod fho rosfIfufIon of hIs offocfs from fho
hnnds of hIs nsfor, !ovorond Anfhony KohImnnn.
WIIIInm Snmson, Tho CnfhoIIc QuosfIon In AmorIcn
43n

(l8l3) (roorfIng !A<_FA I7 !J?F?_D, surn.), VoI. l.
I. 5. Whon fho !ovorond Insfor wns summonod nnd
quosfIonod, ho oxcusod hImsoIf from nnsworIng
quosfIons fouchIng fho rosfIfufIon of fho goods nnd
fho orsons InvoIvod. $B. Whon fho mnffor wns sonf
fo fho Crnnd Jury, fho !ovorond Insfor wns
suboonnod fo nffond, buf ho rosocffuIIy docIInod fo
nnswor fho quosfIons. Tho mnffor rocoodod fo frInI,
whoro fho !ovorond Insfor ngnIn soughf fo bo
oxcusod. Tho mInIsforInI bnsIs for fho !ovorond
Insfor`s roquosf fhnf fho Courf oxcuso hIm from
fosfIfyIng Is sof forfh In dofnII boIow, In orfInonf
nrf:
Woro I summonod fo gIvo ovIdonco ns n
rIvnfo IndIvIdunI (In whIch cnncIfy I docInro
mosf soIomnIy, I know nofhIng roInfIvoIy fo
fho cnso boforo fho courf) nnd fo fosfIfy from
fhoso ordInnry sourcos of InformnfIon from
whIch fho wIfnossos rosonf hnvo dorIvod
fhoIrs, I shouId nof for n momonf hosIfnfo, nnd
shouId ovon doom If n dufy of conscIonco fo
docInro whnfovor knowIodgo I mIghf hnvo; ns,
If cnnnof bo In fho rocoIIocfIon of fhIs snmo
honornbIo Courf, I dId, nof Iong sInco, on n
dIfforonco |sIc] occnsIon, bocnuso my hoIy
roIIgIon fonchos nnd commnnds mo fo subjocf
fo fho hIghor owors In cIvII mnffors, nnd fo
rosocf nnd oboy fhom. Iuf If cnIIod uon fo
fosfIfy In qunIIfy of n mInIsfor of n sncrnmonf,
In whIch my Cod hImsoIf hns onjoInod on mo n
orofunI nnd InvIoInbIo socrocy, I musf
docInro fo fhIs honornbIo Courf, fhnf I cnnnof,
I musf nof nnswor nny quosfIon fhnf hns n
44n

bonrIng uon fho rosfIfufIon In quosfIon; nnd
fhnf If wouId bo my dufy fo rofor
Insfnnfnnoous donfh or nny fomornI
mIsforfuno, rnfhor fhnn dIscIoso fho nnmo of
fho onIfonf In quosfIon. Ior, woro I fo ncf
ofhorwIso, I shouId bocomo n frnIfor fo my
church, fo my sncrod mInIsfry nnd fo my Cod.
In fIno, I shouId rondor mysoIf guIIfy of ofornnI
dnmnnfIon.
!osf fhIs oon nnd froo docInrnfIon of my
roIIgIous rIncIIos shouId bo consfruod Info
fho sIIghfosf dIsrosocf fo fhIs honornbIo
Courf, I musf bog Ionvo ngnIn fo bo InduIgod In
sfnfIng ns brIofIy ns ossIbIo, fho rIncIIos on
whIch fhIs IIno of conducf Is foundod. I shnII
do fhIs wIfh fho gronfor confIdonco, ns I nm
sonkIng boforo wIso nnd onIIghfonod judgos,
who, I nm snfIsfIod, nro nof Ioss ncqunInfod
wIfh fho IondIng docfrInos of fho CnfhoIIc
Church, fhnn wIfh fho sIrIf of our mIId nnd
IIbornI ConsfIfufIon.
Tho quosfIon now boforo fho courf Is fhIs:
Whofhor n !omnn CnfhoIIc IrIosf cnn In nny
cnso bo jusfIfInbIo |sIc] In rovonIIng fho socrofs
of sncrnmonfnI confossIon I sny, ho cnnnof:
fho ronson whoroof musf bo obvIous fo
ovoryono ncqunInfod wIfh fho fonofs of fho
CnfhoIIc Church rosocfIng fho sncrnmonfs.
Ior If Is, nnd ovor wns n fonnnf of fho CnfhoIIc
Church, fhnf Josus ChrIsf, fho dIvIno Ioundor
of ChrIsfInnIfy, hns InsfIfufod sovon
sncrnmonfs, noIfhor moro nor Ioss. If Is
45n

IIkowIso nn nrfIcIo of our fnIfh, fhnf fho
sncrnmonf of onnnco, of whIch sncrnmonfnI
confossIon Is n comononf nrf, Is ono of fho
snId sovon sncrnmonfs. If Is, In fIno, fho
docfrIno of fho CnfhoIIc Church fhnf fho snmo
dIvIno Aufhor of fho sncrnmonfs hns InId fho
obIIgnfIon of n orofunI nnd InvIoInbIo socrocy
on fho mInIsfor of snId sncrnmonf.
ThIs obIIgnfIon of InvIoInbIo socrocy
onjoInod on fho mInIsfor of fho sncrnmonf of
onnnco Is of dIvIno InsfIfufIon ns woII ns
confossIon IfsoIf: If nnfurnIIy fIows from fho
vory nnfuro of fhIs sncrnmonf, nnd Is so
ossonfInIIy connocfod wIfh If, fhnf If cnnnof
subsIsf wIfhouf If. Ior, whon fho bIossod
SnvIour of mnnkInd InsfIfufod fho sncrnmonf
of onnnco, ns fho nocossnry monns for fho
roconcIIInfIon of fho sInnor, fnIIon from fho
grnco of bnfIsm by morfnI sIn, ho
unquosfIonnbIy dId If wIfh fho InfonfIon, fhnf
If shouId bo froquonfod nnd rosorfod fo bo |sIc]
fho roonfIng sInnor. ow, If Is soIf ovIdonf,
|sIc] fhnf If ChrIsf our !ord hnd nof bound
down hIs mInIsfor In fho sncrnmonf of onnnco
fo n sfrIcf nnd orofunI sIIonco, If wouId bo
whoIIy nogIocfod nnd nbnndonod; for wo wnnf
noIfhor gronf IonrnIng nor doo sonso fo
concoIvo, fhnf, In fhnf suosIfIon, fho Insf of
fho fomfnfIons of n sInnor wouId bo fo rovonI
nII hIs wonknossos nnd mosf hIddon fhoughfs
fo n sInfuI mnn IIko hImsoIf, nnd ono orhns
In mnny rosocfs InforIor fo hImsoIf, nnd
whom ho knows fo bo nf fuII IIborfy fo dIvuIgo
46n

nnd dIscIoso whnfovor mny bo Infrusfod fo
hIm. In shorf, fho fhIng sonks for IfsoIf:
ChrIsf fho Incnrnnfo WIsdom of Cod wouId
hnvo mnnIfosfIy domoIIshod wIfh ono hnnd,
whnf ho wns orocfIng wIfh fho ofhor; unIoss
wo boIIovo fhnf ho hns nffIxod by n dIvIno nnd
mosf sncrod Inw fho sonI of InvIoInbIo socrocy,
fo nII nnd ovory nrf nnd cIrcumsfnnco of whnf
Is communIcnfod fo hIs mInIsfor fhrough fho
chnnnoI of confossIon.
If fhoroforo, I or nny ofhor !omnn CnfhoIIc
IrIosf (whIch Cod forbId, nnd of whIch Church
HIsfory durIng fho Iong Inso of oIghfoon
confurIos scnrco ovor furnIshod nn oxnmIo) If,
I sny, I shouId so fnr forgof my sncrod
mInIsfry, nnd bocomo so nbnndonod ns fo
rovonI oIfhor dIrocfIy or IndIrocfIy, nny nrf of
whnf hns boon onfrusfod fo mo In fho sncrod
frIbunnI of onnnco, fho onnIfIos fo whIch I
shouId fhoroby subjocf mysoIf, wouId bo fhoso:
l
sf
. I shouId forovor dogrndo mysoIf In fho oyo
of fho CnfhoIIc Church, nnd I hosIfnfo nof fo
sny, In fho oyo of ovory mnn of sound rIncIIo:
fho worId wouId jusfIy osfoom mo ns n bnso
nnd unworfhy wrofch, guIIfy of fho mosf
hoInous rovnrIcnfIon n rIosf cnn ossIbIy
orofrnfo, In bronkIng fhrough fho mosf
sncrod Inws of hIs Cod, of nnfuro, nnd of hIs
Church.
2dIy. AccordIng fo fho cnnons of fho
CnfhoIIc Church I shouId bo dIvosf |sIc] of my
sncordofnI chnrncfor, roIncod In fho condIfIon
4?n

of n !nymnn, nnd forovor dIsnbIo |sIc] from
oxorcIsIng nny of fho IccIosInsfIcnI funcfIons.
3dIy. ConformnbIy fo fho snmo cnnons, I
shouId dosorvo fo bo Iodgod In cIoso
confInomonf, shuf u bofwoon four wnIIs fo do
onnnco durIng fho romnIndor of my IIfo.
4fhIy. AgroonbIy fo fho dIcfnfos of my
conscIonco, I shouId rondor mysoIf guIIfy, by
such n dIscIosuro, of ovorInsfIng unIshmonf
In fho IIfo fo como.
HnvIng fhus brIofIy sfnfod fo fhIs
honornbIo Courf, my ronsons for nof
nnsworIng fho quosfIons of fho Affornoy
ConornI, In fho rosonf Insfnnco, I frusf fhoy
wIII nof bo found frIvInI nnd unsnfIsfncfory.
$B. Af . 8-l2.
In fhIs osfuro, fho oxomfIon cInImod by fho
!ovorond Insfor wns rnIsod for fho fIrsf fImo In fhIs
counfry. $B. nf . l3. CounsoI for fho !ovorond
Insfor urgod fhnf fho oxomfIon wns rofocfod by
fho ow York sfnfo consfIfufIon nnd by fho common
Inw. WIfh rosocf fo fho consfIfufIon, ho nssorfod fho
oxomfIon wns socurod by fho sfnfo consfIfufIon`s
rofocfIon of froo oxorcIso nnd omjoymonf |sIc] of
roIIgIous rofossIon nnd worshI. $B. nf . 30.
Ivory fhIng ossonfInI fo fhnf objocf, Is by nocossnry
ImIIcnfIon, socurod by fho consfIfufIon; unIoss If
Ionds fo ncfs of IIconfIousnoss, or fo rncfIcos
InconsIsfonf wIfh fho onco or snfofy of fho Sfnfo.
$B. nf . 3l. In suorf of fho nrgumonf, fho
rhoforIcnI quosfIon wns osod, Is nurIcuInr
48n

confossIon dnngorous fo fho onco or snfofy of fho
Sfnfo $B. nf . 33. !ognrdIng fho common Inw, fho
oxomfIon wns suorfod by fho known rIncIIos
fhnf fho Inw wouId nof comoI nny mnn fo nnswor n
quosfIon fhnf subjocfod hIm fo n onnIfy or
forfoIfuro, ImnIrod hIs cIvII rIghfs, or dogrndod,
dIsgrncod, or dIsnrngod hIm. $B. nf . l4 nnd 36.
CounsoI urgod fhnf mnn wns noIfhor bound fo nccuso
hImsoIf of n crImo nor wns ho bound fo subjocf
hImsoIf fo n onnIfy or forfoIfuro. $B. nf . 36.
l

WIIIInm Snmson, nn IrIsh Irofosfnnf Inwyor nnd
oIIfIcnI oxIIo, nrguod on bohnIf of fho CIorgy nnd
Trusfoos of Sf. Iofor`s !omnn CnfhoIIc Church. Ho
urgod, In nrf, how our !nIfod Sfnfos ConsfIfufIon
rovIdod oxIIcIf nufhorIfy fo suorf fho cInImod
oxomfIon:
Tho consfIfufIon sfnnds In nood of no such
IIIusfrnfIons. If Is sImIo, nnd rocIso, nnd
unoquIvocnI.. Tho ooIo whoso wIII If
sonks, woro nof of nny ono church . buf of
mnny nnd vnrIous socfs, nII of whom hnd
sufforod moro or Ioss In Iuroo for fhoIr
roIIgIous fonofs, nnd mnny of whom hnd
unroIonfIngIy orsocufod onch ofhor.. Tho
cnfhoIIcs If Is fruo, boro fho hnrdosf burfhon of
nII; buf fho ofhors wouId bo vory sorry, I
boIIovo fo uf nsIdo our consfIfufIon nnd

l
ThIs concurronco rosonfs onIy n brIof roforonco fo somo
of fho nrgumonfs of counsoI nnd of fho docIsIon of fho
!J?FF?_D courf.
49n

rosumo fhoIr nncIonf condIfIon. And Cod
forbId If shouId bo so.. |$B. nf . ??.]
.
Tho consfIfufIon Is romodInfo of mnny
mIschIofs, nnd musf bo IIbornIIy consfruod. If
Is nIso docInrnfory, nnd ronouncos
foIornfIon.. If Ifs nufhors nro yof nIIvo, or If
IookIng down from n hnIor nbodo, |nnd] fhoy
hnvo now nny cnro of morfnI fhIngs, how musf
fhoy rojoIco fo soo If fIourIsh, fo soo fhnf nII
fhoso churchos, nro buf so mnny fomIos of
ono onIy IIvIng Cod, from whonco hIs
worshIors no Iongor snIIy forfh wIfh fusk
nnd horn fo goro onch ofhor, buf moof IIko
shoo, fhnf nro of ono shohord, buf of nnofhor
foId. |Id. nf . 9l-92.]
IIndIng morIf In fho osIfIons ndvnncod by fho
rIosf nnd fho CnfhoIIc Church, fho !J?F?_D
docIsIon,
2
uhoId fho oxomfIon cInImod, fIndIng fhnf
fho wIfnoss nnd hIs brofhron woro rofocfod by fho
Inws nnd consfIfufIon of fhIs counfry, In fho fuII nnd
froo oxorcIso of fhoIr roIIgIon.
3
!J?F?_D nddrossod
fho onquIry nf hnnd ns nn Imorfnnf ono fo nII
roIIgIous donomInnfIons, nnd bocnuso nrnhrnsIng
fho Courf`s oIoquonf fIndIngs wouId subfrncf from Ifs
Imorf, I sof forfh fho foIIowIng oxcorfs of fho
Courf`s docIsIon:

2
Mnyor o WIff CIInfon nufhorod fho oInIon of fho courf.

3
Iocnuso fhoro wns no ovIdonco ngnInsf fho dofondnnfs In
fho IhIIIIs cnso, fhoy woro ncquIffod. $B. nf . ll4.
50n

Tho quosfIon fhon Is, whofhor n !omnn
cnfhoIIc rIosf shnII bo comoIIod fo dIscIoso
whnf ho hns rocoIvod In confossIon In
vIoInfIon of hIs conscIonco, of hIs cIorIcnI
ongngomonfs, nnd of fho cnnons of hIs church,
nnd wIfh n corfnInfy of boIng sfrIod of hIs
sncrod funcfIons, nnd cuf off from roIIgIous
communIon nnd socInI Inforcourso wIfh fho
donomInnfIon fo whIch ho boIongs.
ThIs Is nn Imorfnnf onquIry; |I]f Is
Imorfnnf fo fho church uon whIch If hns n
nrfIcuInr bonrIng. If Is Imorfnnf fo nII
roIIgIous donomInnfIons, bocnuso If InvoIvos n
rIncIIo whIch mny In Ifs rncfIcnI oornfIon
nffocf fhom nII ..
.
If Is n gonornI ruIo, fhnf ovory mnn whon
IognIIy cnIIod uon fo fosfIfy ns n wIfnoss,
musf roInfo nII ho knows. ThIs Is ossonfInI fo
fho ndmInIsfrnfIon of cIvII nnd crImInnI
jusfIco.
Iuf fo fhIs ruIo fhoro nro sovornI
oxcofIons n husbnnd nnd wIfo cnnnof fosfIfy
ngnInsf onch ofhor, oxcof for orsonnI
nggrossIons nor cnn nn nffornoy or
counsoIor, bo forcod fo rovonI fho
communIcnfIons of hIs cIIonf nor Is n mnn
obIIgod fo nnswor nny quosfIon, fho nnsworIng
of whIch mny obIIgo hIm fo nccuso hImsoIf of n
crImo, or subjocf hIm fo onnIfIos or
unIshmonf. |$B. nf . 96-98].
5ln

Whofhor n wIfnoss Is bound fo nnswor n
quosfIon, whIch mny dIsgrnco or dogrndo
hIm, or sfIgmnfIzo hIm by fho
ncknowIodgomonf of offoncos, whIch hnvo boon
nrdonod or unIshod, or by fho confossIon of
sIns or vIcos, whIch mny nffocf fho urIfy of
hIs chnrncfor, nnd fho rosocfnbIIIfy of hIs
sfnndIng In socIofy, wIfhouf rondorIng hIm
obnoxIous fo unIshmonf, Is n quosfIon
InvoIvod In much obscurIfy, nnd nbouf whIch
fhoro Is n vnrIofy of docfrIno, nnd n coIIIsIon of
ndjudIcnfIons.
Affor cnrofuIIy oxnmInIng fhIs subjocf, wo
nro of oInIon fhnf such n wIfnoss, oughf nof
fo bo comoIIod fo nnswor. |$B. nf . 99].
.
|I]n fho cnso now ondIng, If wo docIdo fhnf
fho wIfnoss shnII fosfIfy, wo roscrIbo n courso
of conducf by whIch ho wIII vIoInfo hIs
sIrIfunI dufIos, subjocf hImsoIf fo fomornI
Ioss, nnd orofrnfo n dood of Infnmy....
Thoro cnn bo no doubf buf fhnf fho wIfnoss
doos consIdor, fhnf hIs nnsworIng on fhIs
occnsIon, wouId bo such n hIgh hnndod offonco
ngnInsf roIIgIon, fhnf If wouId oxoso hIm fo
unIshmonf In n fufuro sfnfo - nnd If musf bo
concodod by nII, fhnf If wouId subjocf hIm fo
rIvnfIons nnd dIsgrnco In fhIs worId....
If cnnnof fhoroforo, for n momonf bo
boIIovod, fhnf fho mIId nnd jusf rIncIIos of
fho common !nw wouId Inco fho wIfnoss In
52n

such n drondfuI rodIcnmonf; In such n
horrIbIo dIIommn, bofwoon orjury nnd fnIso
swonrIng: If ho foIIs fho frufh ho vIoInfos hIs
occIosInsfIcnI onfh If ho rovnrIcnfos ho
vIoInfos hIs judIcInI onfh Whofhor ho IIos, or
whofhor ho fosfIfIos fho frufh ho Is wIckod,
nnd If Is ImossIbIo for hIm fo ncf wIfhouf
ncfIng ngnInsf fho Inws of rocfIfudo nnd fho
IIghf of conscIonco.
Tho onIy courso Is, for fho courf fo docInro
fhnf ho shnII nof fosfIfy or ncf nf nII. And n
courf roscrIbIng n dIfforonf courso musf bo
govornod by fooIIngs nnd vIows vory dIfforonf
from fhoso whIch onfor Info fho comosIfIon of
n jusf nnd onIIghfonod frIbunnI, fhnf Iooks
wIfh n roIfIous oyo uon fho roIIgIous
fooIIngs of mnnkInd, nnd whIch dIsonsos wIfh
nn oqunI hnnd fho unIvorsnI nnd ImmufnbIo
oIomonfs of jusfIco. |$B. nf . l02-03.]
Iuf fhIs Is n gronf consfIfufIonnI quosfIon,
whIch musf nof bo soIoIy docIdod by fho
mnxIms of fho common Inw, buf by fho
rIncIIos of our govornmonf .; uon fho
ground of fho consfIfufIon, of fho socInI
comncf, nnd of cIvII nnd roIIgIous IIborfy.
!oIIgIon Is nn nffnIr bofwoon Cod nnd mnn,
nnd nof bofwoon mnn nnd mnn. Tho Inws
whIch roguInfo If musf omnnnfo from fho
Suromo IoIng, nof from humnn InsfIfufIons.
IsfnbIIshod roIIgIons, dorIvIng fhoIr nufhorIfy
from mnn, orossIng ofhor donomInnfIons,
roscrIbIng croods of orfhodoxy, nnd
53n

unIshIng non-conformIfy, nro rougnnnf fo
fho fIrsf rIncIIos of cIvII nnd oIIfIcnI IIborfy,
nnd In dIrocf coIIIsIon wIfh fho dIvIno sIrIf of
ChrIsfInnIfy. AIfhough no humnn IogIsInfor
hns n rIghf fo moddIo wIfh roIIgIon, yof fho
hIsfory of fho worId, Is n hIsfory of orossIon
nnd fyrnnny ovor fho conscIoncos of mon.
And fho sngos who formod our consfIfufIon,
wIfh fhIs InsfrucfIvo Iosson boforo fhoIr oyos,
orcoIvod fho IndIsonsnbIo nocossIfy of
nIyIng n rovonfnfIvo, fhnf wouId forovor
oxcIudo fho InfroducfIon of cnInmIfIos, fhnf
hnvo doIugod fho worId wIfh fonrs nnd wIfh
bIood, nnd fho foIIowIng socfIon wns
nccordIngIy ongrnffod In our sfnfo consfIfufIon:
And whorons wo nro roquIrod by fho
bonovoIonf rIncIIos of rnfIonnI IIborfy,
nof onIy fo oxoI cIvII fyrnnny, buf
nIso fo gunrd ngnInsf fhnf sIrIfunI
orossIon nnd InfoIornnco, whorowIfh
fho bIgofry nnd nmbIfIon of wonk nnd
wIckod rIncos hnvo scourgod mnnkInd,
|f]hIs convonfIon dofh furfhor In fho
nnmo, nnd by fho nufhorIfy of fho good
ooIo of fhIs sfnfo, ordnIn, doformIno,
nnd docInro, fhnf fho froo oxorcIso nnd
onjoymonf of roIIgIous rofossIon nnd
worshI , wIfhouf dIscrImInnfIon or
roforonco, shnII forovor horonffor bo
nIIowod wIfhIn fhIs sfnfo, fo nII
mnnkInd. IrovIdod, fhnf fho IIborfy of
conscIonco, horoby grnnfod, shnII nof
bo so consfruod ns fo oxcuso ncfs of
54n

IIconfIousnoss, or jusfIfy rncfIcos
InconsIsfonf wIfh fho onco or snfofy of
fhIs sfnfo.
.
A rovIsIon concoIvod In n sIrIf of fho mosf
rofound wIsdom, nnd fho mosf oxnIfod
chnrIfy, oughf fo rocoIvo fho mosf IIbornI
consfrucfIon. AIfhough by fho consfIfufIon of
fho !nIfod Sfnfos, fho owors of congross do
nof oxfond boyond corfnIn onumornfod objocfs;
yof fo rovonf fho dnngor of consfrucfIvo
nssumfIons, fho foIIowIng nmondmonf wns
ndofod: Congross shnII mnko no Inw
rosocfIng nn osfnbIIshmonf of roIIgIon, or
rohIbIfIng fho froo oxorcIso fhoroof. In fhIs
counfry fhoro Is no nIIInnco bofwoon church
nnd sfnfo; no osfnbIIshod roIIgIon; no foIornfod
roIIgIon - for foIornfIon rosuIfs from
osfnbIIshmonf - buf roIIgIous froodom
gunrnnfood by fho consfIfufIon, nnd
consocrnfod by fho socInI comncf.
If Is ossonfInI fo fho froo oxorcIso of n
roIIgIon, fhnf Ifs ordInnncos shnII bo
ndmInIsforod - fhnf Ifs coromonIos ns woII ns
Ifs ossonfInIs shouId bo rofocfod. Tho
sncrnmonfs of n roIIgIon nro Ifs mosf
Imorfnnf oIomonfs.
.
If hns boon confondod fhnf fho rovIsIon of
fho consfIfufIon whIch sonks of rncfIcos
InconsIsfonf wIfh fho onco or snfofy of fho
55n

sfnfo, oxcIudos fhIs cnso from fho rofocfIon of
fho consfIfufIon, nnd nufhorIzod fho
Inforforonco of fhIs frIbunnI fo coorco fho
wIfnoss. In ordor fo susfnIn fhIs osIfIon, If
musf bo cIonrIy mndo ouf fhnf fho conconImonf
obsorvod In fho sncrnmonf of onnnco, Is n
rncfIco InconsIsfonf wIfh fho onco or snfofy
of fho sfnfo.
Thoro Is In fncf, no socrof known fo fho
rIosf, whIch wouId bo communIcnfod
ofhorwIso, fhnn by confossIon - nnd no ovII
rosuIfs from fhIs communIcnfIon - on fho
confrnry, If mny bo mndo fho Insfrumonf of
gronf good....
Tho Inngungo of fho consfIfufIon Is
omhnfIc nnd sfrIkIng, If sonks of ncfs of
IIconfIousnoss, of rncfIcos InconsIsfonf wIfh
fho frnnquIIIfy nnd snfofy of fho sfnfo; If hns
roforonco fo somofhIng ncfunIIy, nof nognfIvoIy
InjurIous. To ncfs commIffod, nof fo ncfs
omIffod - offoncos of n doo dyo, nnd of nn
oxfonsIvoIy InjurIous nnfuro: If wouId bo
sfrofchIng If on fho rnck so sny |sIc] fhnf If cnn
ossIbIy confomInfo fho forbonrnnco of n
!omnn cnfhoIIc rIosf, fo fosfIfy whnf ho hns
rocoIvod In confossIon, or fhnf If couId ovor
consIdor fho snfofy of fho communIfy InvoIvod
In fhIs quosfIon. To nssorf fhIs ns fho gonuIno
monnIng of fho consfIfufIon, wouId bo fo mock
fho undorsfnndIng, nnd fo rondor fho IIborfy of
conscIonco n moro IIIusIon. If wouId bo fo
dosfroy fho onncfIng cInuso of fho rovIso - nnd
56n

fo rondor fho oxcofIon brondor fhnn fho ruIo,
fo subvorf nII fho rIncIIos of sound
ronsonIng, nnd ovorfhrow nII fho convIcfIons of
common sonso.
If n roIIgIous socf shouId rIso u nnd vIoInfo
fho doconcIos of IIfo, by rncfIcIng fhoIr
roIIgIous rIfos, In n sfnfo of nnkodnoss; by
foIIowIng Incosf nnd n communIfy of wIvos. If
fho HIndoo shouId nffomf fo Infroduco fho
burnIng of wIdows on fho funornI IIos of fhoIr
doconsod husbnnds, or fho Mnhomofnn hIs
IurnIIfy of wIvos, or fho Ingnn hIs
bncchnnnIInn orgIos or humnn sncrIfIcos. If n
fnnnfIcnI socf shouId srIng u ... nnd uII u
fho IIInrs of socIofy, or If nny nffomf shouId
bo mndo fo osfnbIIsh fho InquIsIfIon, fhon fho
IIconfIous ncfs nnd dnngorous rncfIcos,
confomInfod by fho consfIfufIon, wouId oxIsf,
nnd fho hnnd of fho mngIsfrnfo wouId bo
rIghffuIIy rnIsod fo chnsfIso fho guIIfy ngonfs.
Iuf unfII mon undor rofonco of roIIgIon,
ncf counfor fo fho fundnmonfnI rIncIIos of
mornIIfy, nnd ondnngor fho woII boIng | sI c]
of fho sfnfo, fhoy nro fo bo rofocfod In fho
froo oxorcIso of fhoIr roIIgIon. If fhoy nro In
orror, or If fhoy nro wIckod, fhoy nro fo nnswor
fo fho Suromo IoIng, nof fo fho unhnIIowod
InfrusIon of frnII fnIIIbIo morfnIs.
Wo sonk of fhIs quosfIon, nof In n
fhooIogIcnI sonso, buf In Ifs IognI nnd
consfIfufIonnI bonrIngs. AIfhough wo dIffor
from fho wIfnoss nnd hIs brofhron, In our
5?n

roIIgIous crood, yof wo hnvo no ronson fo
quosfIon fho urIfy of fhoIr mofIvos, or fo
Imonch fhoIr good conducf ns cIfIzons. Thoy
nro rofocfod by fho Inws nnd consfIfufIon of
fhIs counfry, In fho fuII nnd froo oxorcIso of
fhoIr roIIgIon, nnd fhIs courf cnn novor
counfonnnco or nufhorIzo fho nIIcnfIon of
InsuIf fo fhoIr fnIfh, or of forfuro fo fhoIr
conscIoncos.
$B. nf . l08-ll4.
Two hundrod yonrs nffor fhIs Inndmnrk cnso wns
docIdod, fho rIosf nnd fho !omnn CnfhoIIc Church
Invoko fho snmo rofocfod oxorcIso of roIIgIon In fho
mnffor boforo fhIs courf. And fho Inw rofocfIng
froodom of roIIgIon romnIns fho snmo. Thus, our
sfnfo`s IogIsInfuro hns nccordIngIy rovIdod fhnf n
rIosf Is nof roquIrod fo roorf n confIdonfInI
communIcnfIon undor !ouIsInnn ChIIdron`s Codo
nrfIcIo 609`s mnndnfory chIId nbuso roorfIng
roquIromonfs. IromIsod on our nnfIon`s bIII of rIghfs,
fho rovIsIons of !n. Ch. Codo nrfs. 603(l5)(c), 609,
nnd !n. C.I. nrf. 5ll, coIIocfIvoIy ncknowIodgo fhnf
fho rIosf Is nof roquIrod fo roorf n confIdonfInI
communIcnfIon mndo by n orson fo n rIosf.
4
To
subjocf n CnfhoIIc rIosf fo such mnndnfory roorfIng
wouId bo cIonrIy vIoInfIvo of fho IIrsf Amondmonf of
fho !nIfod Sfnfos ConsfIfufIon.
Tho !oIIgIon CInusos of fho IIrsf Amondmonf

4
Thoso sfnfufos cnnnof bo Inforrofod wIfhouf
confomInfIng fhoIr ConsfIfufIonnI undorInnIngs.

58n

of fho !nIfod Sfnfos ConsfIfufIon rovIdos: Congross
shnII mnko no Inw rosocfIng nn osfnbIIshmonf of
roIIgIon, or rohIbIfIng fho froo oxorcIso fhoroof.
5

Tho fIrsf of fho fwo CInusos, commonIy cnIIod fho
IsfnbIIshmonf CInuso, commnnds n sonrnfIon of
church nnd sfnfo. Tho socond, fho Iroo IxorcIso
CInuso, roquIros govornmonf rosocf for nnd
nonInforforonco wIfh fho roIIgIous boIIofs nnd
rncfIcos of our nfIon`s ooIo. ,@>>AH I7
+?Fe?=D<=, 544 !.S. ?09, ?l9, l25 S. Cf. 2ll3, 2l20,
l6l !. Id. 2d l020 (2005). Thoso fwo CInusos, whIIo
oxrossIng comIomonfnry vnIuos, nro froquonfIy In
fonsIon. 4<;eA I7 0CIA^, 540 !.S. ?l2, l24 S.Cf.
l30?, l58 !.Id.2d l (2004). Tho bnsIc urosos of
fhoso CInusos, howovor, nro fo nssuro fho fuIIosf
ossIbIo scoo of roIIgIous IIborfy nnd foIornnco for
nII. /;J<<F 0?D>7 <a *g?=X><= #<G=DJ?_ I7
/;JAY__, 3?4 !.S. 203, 83 S.Cf. l560, l0 !.Id.2d
844 (l963), concurrIng oInIon of JusfIco CoIdborg,
joInod by JusfIco HnrInn.
6

5
!IkowIso, !n. Consf. nrf. l, 8, rovIdos, o Inw shnII
bo onncfod rosocfIng nn osfnbIIshmonf of roIIgIon or
rohIbIfIng fho froo oxorcIso fhoroof.

6
!oIovnnf fo fhIs oInf Is fho foIIowIng orfInonf
oxcorf from A !offor ConcornIng ToIornfIon by
John !ocko, l689:
Tho foIornfIon of fhoso fhnf dIffor from
ofhors In mnffors of roIIgIon Is so ngroonbIo fo
fho CosoI of Josus ChrIsf, nnd fo fho gonuIno
ronson of mnnkInd, fhnf If sooms monsfrous
for mon fo bo so bIInd ns nof fo orcoIvo fho
59n

nocossIfy nnd ndvnnfngo of If In so cIonr n
IIghf. ... |H]owovor, fhnf somo mny nof coIor
fhoIr sIrIf of orsocufIon nnd unchrIsfInn
cruoIfy wIfh n rofonco of cnro of fho ubIIc
wonI nnd obsorvnfIon of fho Inws; ... I osfoom
If nbovo nII fhIngs nocossnry fo dIsfInguIsh
oxncfIy fho busInoss of cIvII govornmonf from
fhnf of roIIgIon nnd fo soffIo fho jusf bounds
fhnf IIo bofwoon fho ono nnd fho ofhor ....
If Is fho dufy of fho cIvII mngIsfrnfo, by fho
ImnrfInI oxocufIon of oqunI Inws, fo socuro
unfo nII fho ooIo In gonornI nnd fo ovory ono
of hIs subjocfs In nrfIcuInr fho jusf ossossIon
of fhoso fhIngs boIongIng fo fhIs IIfo. If nnyono
rosumo fo vIoInfo fho Inws of ubIIc jusfIco
nnd oquIfy, osfnbIIshod for fho rosorvnfIon of
fhoso fhIngs, hIs rosumfIon Is fo bo chockod
by fho fonr of unIshmonf, consIsfIng of fho
dorIvnfIon or dImInufIon of fhoso cIvII
Inforosfs, or goods, whIch ofhorwIso ho mIghf
nnd oughf fo onjoy....
In fho socond Inco, fho cnro of souIs cnnnof
boIong fo fho cIvII mngIsfrnfo, bocnuso hIs
owor consIsfs onIy In oufwnrd forco; buf fruo
nnd snvIng roIIgIon consIsfs In fho Inwnrd
orsunsIon of fho mInd, wIfhouf whIch nofhIng
cnn bo nccofnbIo fo Cod....
In fho fhIrd Inco, fho cnro of fho snIvnfIon
of mon`s souIs cnnnof boIong fo fho
mngIsfrnfo.... In fho vnrIofy nnd confrndIcfIon
of oInIons In roIIgIon, whoroIn fho rIncos of
60n

ofnbIy, fho roIo of roIIgIon In AmorIcnn IIfo hns
boon offIcInIIy ncknowIodgod by nII fhroo brnnchos of
govornmonf from nf Ionsf l?89. SC= %HBA= I7
!AHH^, 545 !.S. 6??, 686, l25 S. Cf. 2854, 286l, l62
!. Id. 2d 60? (2005), cIfIng 4^=;J I7 0<==AFF^, 465
!.S. 668, l04 S.Cf. l355, ?9 !.Id.2d 604 (l984). Our
!nIfod Sfnfos Suromo Courf obsorvod In /;J<<F
0?D>7 <a *g?=X><= #<G=DJ?_ I7 /;JAY__, 3?4 !.S.
203, 83 S.Cf. l560, l0 !.Id.2d 844 (l963):
If Is fruo fhnf roIIgIon hns boon cIosoIy
IdonfIfIod wIfh our hIsfory nnd govornmonf ....
Tho fncf fhnf fho IoundIng Infhors boIIovod
dovofodIy fhnf fhoro wns n Cod nnd fhnf fho
unnIIonnbIo rIghfs of mnn woro roofod In HIm
Is cIonrIy ovIdoncod In fhoIr wrIfIngs, from fho
MnyfIowor Comncf fo fho ConsfIfufIon IfsoIf
.... If cnn bo fruIy snId, fhoroforo, fhnf fodny,

fho worId nro ns much dIvIdod ns In fhoIr
socuInr Inforosf,... ono counfry nIono wouId bo
In fho rIghf, nnd nII fho rosf of fho worId uf
undor nn obIIgnfIon of foIIowIng fhoIr rIncos
In fho wnys fhnf Iond fo dosfrucfIon.... |M]on
wouId owo fhoIr ofornnI hnInoss or mIsory fo
fho Incos of fhoIr nnfIvIfy.
Thoso consIdornfIons ... soom unfo mo
suffIcIonf fo concIudo fhnf nII fho owor of cIvII
govornmonf roInfos onIy fo mon`s cIvII
Inforosfs, Is confInod fo fho cnro of fho fhIngs
of fhIs worId, nnd hnfh nofhIng fo do wIfh fho
worId fo como.

6ln

ns In fho bogInnIng, our nnfIonnI IIfo rofIocfs n
roIIgIous ooIo who, In fho words of MndIson,
nro 'onrnosfIy rnyIng, ns ... In dufy bound,
fhnf fho Suromo !nwgIvor of fho !nIvorso ...
guIdo fhom Info ovory monsuro whIch mny bo
worfhy of hIs |bIossIng ... .]` $B., nf 2l2-2l3,
83 S.Cf. l560.
Our ConsfIfufIon ncknowIodgos fhIs counfry`s
roIIgIous foundnfIon by fho uso of fho hrnso, In fho
Yonr of our !ord. Tho ocInrnfIon of Indoondonco
oons wIfh roforoncos fo nfuro`s Cod nnd fho
Cronfor nnd cIosos wIfh nn nonI fo: fho Suromo
Judgo of fho WorId nnd dIvIno IrovIdonco. Amnr,
AkhII !. AmorIcn`s !nwrIffon ConsfIfufIon: fho
rocodonfs nnd rIncIIos wo IIvo by. ow York,
InsIc Iooks, 20l2. IrInf.
?

I ncknowIodgo fhnf fho froo oxorcIso of roIIgIon Is
nof wIfhouf somo govornmonf rosfrIcfIon. Whoro
ooIo`s ncfIons nro found fo bo subvorsIvo of
good ordor, IImIfnfIons on such ncfIon hnvo boon
uhoId. 3HC@=aAFB I7 3H<G=, 366 !.S. 599, 603-04,

?
Tho IIrsf Irnyor of fho ConfInonfnI Congross, l??4,
Tho OffIco of fho ChnInIn, !nIfod Sfnfos Houso of
!orosonfnfIvos ofIfIonod, fho !ord our HonvonIy
Infhor, hIgh nnd mIghfy KIng of kIngs, !ord of
Iords, O Cod of wIsdom, nnd Josus ChrIsf, Thy
Son nnd our SnvIor fo dIrocf fho councIIs of fhIs
honornbIo nssombIy fo onnbIo fhom fo soffIo fhIngs
on fho bosf nnd surosf foundnfIon.

62n

8l S.Cf. ll44 (l96l).
8
Iuf horo, ns rocognIzod In fho

8
In 3HC@=aAFBU 366 !.S. nf 604, fho Courf nofod
fhnf Thomns Jofforson nrfIcuInfod fhIs gonornI oInf
fhnf IogIsInfIvo owor mny ronch ooIo's ncfIons
whon fhoy nro found fo bo In vIoInfIon of Imorfnnf
socInI dufIos In sfnfIng, ns foIIows:
IoIIovIng wIfh you fhnf roIIgIon
Is n mnffor whIch IIos soIoIy bofwoon
mnn nnd hIs Cod, fhnf ho owos
nccounf fo nono ofhor for hIs fnIfh or
hIs worshI, fhnf fho IogIsInfIvo
owors of govornmonf ronch ncfIons
onIy, nnd nof oInIons, I confomInfo
wIfh sovoroIgn rovoronco fhnf ncf of
fho whoIo AmorIcnn ooIo whIch
docInrod fhnf fhoIr IogIsInfuro
shouId ' mnko no Inw rosocfIng nn
osfnbIIshmonf of roIIgIon, or
rohIbIfIng fho froo oxorcIso fhoroof,`
fhus buIIdIng n wnII of sonrnfIon
bofwoon church nnd Sfnfo.
AdhorIng fo fhIs oxrossIon of fho
suromo wIII of fho nnfIon In bohnIf
of fho rIghfs of conscIonco, I shnII
soo wIfh sIncoro snfIsfncfIon fho
rogross of fhoso sonfImonfs whIch
fond fo rosforo fo mnn nII hIs nnfurnI
rIghfs, convIncod ho hns no nnfurnI
rIghf In oosIfIon fo hIs socInI
dufIos.
8 Works of Thomns Jofforson ll3.
63n

!J?F?_Dc cnso, fho IrIosf`s comIInnco wIfh fho
docfrInos of fho !omnn CnfhoIIc Church, I.o., fhnf ho
nof dIvuIgo nny InformnfIon obfnInod durIng fho
Sncrnmonf of !oconcIIInfIon, Is nof In nnywny
subvorsIvo of good ordor nnd doos nof ofhorwIso oso
nny subsfnnfInI fhronf fo ubIIc snfofy, onco or
ordor; on fho confrnry, fho Church's docfrInos nro fho
foundnfIon of fhoso fhIngs. Iocnuso fho nIIogod
ncfIons of fho IrIosf nnd fho !omnn CnfhoIIc Church
of fho Iocoso of Infon !ougo nro rofocfod by fho
Iroo IxorcIso CInuso of fho IIrsf Amondmonf,

Tho 3HC@=aAFB Courf nIso roforoncod fho words
of OIIvor IIIsworfh, n mombor of fho
ConsfIfufIonnI ConvonfIon nnd Infor ChIof JusfIco,
who wrofo:
Iuf whIIo I nssorf fho rIghfs of
roIIgIous IIborfy, I wouId nof dony
fhnf fho cIvII owor hns n rIghf, In
somo cnsos, fo Inforforo In mnffors of
roIIgIon. If hns n rIghf fo rohIbIf
nnd unIsh gross ImmornIIfIos nnd
ImIofIos; bocnuso fho oon rncfIco
of fhoso Is of ovII oxnmIo nnd
dofrImonf.
ImhnsIs nddod. WrIffon In fho
ConnocfIcuf Cournnf, oc. l?, l?8?,
ns quofod In l Sfokos, Church nnd
Sfnfo In fho !nIfod Sfnfos, 535.
3HC@=aAFBU 366 !.S. nf 604-605, 8l
S.Cf. nf ll46.
64n

InInfIffs hnvo nof sof forfh n cnuso of ncfIon ngnInsf
fhom. AccordIngIy, I concur In fho mnjorIfy`s oInIon.

65n

L6#1 T.0$,$*4 0$/#)$,# ,%.)#
(%) #1" !*)$/1 %( 3*#%& )%.2"

/.!)"9" ,%.)# %( 4%.$/$*&*

&%7 hOKNK88 0$S$/$%& i,i /",#$%& 5j

)%3")# 07 9*V".f E 4$/* 97 9*V".f

S")/./

2"%)2" T7 ,1*)4"#U T)7U BA;ACDABU
,1*)4"# (.&")*4 1%9"U $&,7U
)"S")"&0 97 T"((")V 3*V1$ C=B
#1" )%9*& ,*#1%4$, ,1.),1 (%)
#1" 0$%,"/" %( 3*#%& )%.2"

($4"0Z ("3 55U 5KLM b/b
0"!.#V ,4")[

T.029"&#
ThIs mnffor cnmo for honrIng on fho MofIon In
!ImIno fIIod by ofondnnfs, Tho !omnn CnfhoIIc
Church of fho Iocoso of Infon !ougo nnd !ovorond
M. Joffory InyhI, fo rocIudo nnd rohIbIf IInInfIffs
from monfIonIng, roforoncIng, nnd/or InfroducIng
nof hnvo fnkon Inco bofwoon !oboccn Mnyoux nnd
ofondnnf !ovorond M. Joffory InyhI whIIo
!ovorond InyhI wns ncfIng In hIs offIcInI cnncIfy ns
n Iocoso rIosf, on fho l9fh dny of Iobrunry 20l3.
66n

!)"/"&#Z
IrInn K. AboIs
Mnrk . Ioyor
Affornoy for IInInfIffs, !oborf Mnyoux
nnd !Isn Mnyoux
Hnrry J. IhIIIIs, Jr.
IIIznbofh Adnms
Affornoys for ofondnnf, Coorgo
ChnrIof, Jr. (doconsod)
on M. !Ichnrd
MIchnoI !. oShnzo
Affornoys for ofondnnfs, Tho !omnn
CnfhoIIc Church for fho Iocoso of
Infon !ougo nnd !ovoronf M. Joffory
InyhI
ConsIdorIng fho IondIngs of rocord, fho nrgumonf
of counsoI, nnd fho Inw nnd ovIdonco nnd for fho ornI
ronsons rocIfod In oon courf:
$# $/ 1")"3V %)0")"0U *0T.02"0U *&0
0",)""0 fhnf fho MofIon In !ImIno fIIod by
ofondnnfs Tho !omnn CnfhoIIc Church for fho
Iocoso of Infon !ougo nnd !ovorond M. Joffroy
InyhI Is horoby 0"&$"0.
IATO !O!CI, !O!ISIAA, fho 22 dny of
Iobrunry, 20l3.

/s/
HOO!AI!I !. MICHAI! CA!WI!!

6?n

Partial Transcript of District Court Hearing on Motion in
Limine, Feb. 19, 2013

THE COURT: WELL, THIS IS CERTAINLY ONE I
WISH YALL HAD BROUGHT TO ME EARLIER. THIS
IS A VERY DIFFICULT DETERMINATION. AS
INDICATED, UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF WHATS
NOW 603(15)(C), I THINK FATHER BAHYI [sic] IS
EXCEPTED FROM THE MEMBER OF THE CLERGY
BEING A MANDATORY REPORTER FOR ANYTHING
HE LEARNED AS PART OF RECONCILIATION,
CONFESSION, OR CONFIDENTIAL COMMUN-
ICATIONS. AGAIN, THAT IS BOLSTERED BY
ARTICLE 612, SUBPART B THAT SAYS ONCE AN
INVESTIGATION IS INSTITUTED, THE PRIEST DOES
NOT HAVE OR SHALL NOT BE REQUIRED TO
DISCLOSE ANY COMMUNICATIONS CONSIDERED TO
BE A CONFESSION OR OTHER SACRED
COMMUNICATION BETWEEN A PRIEST AND HIS
COMMUNICANT. AND AS OFTEN HAPPENS WITH
THE LEGISLATURE, THEY ENACT PARTS OF
STATUTES SOMETIMES WITHOUT READING THE
OTHER PARTS, AND WHETHER THEY KNEW OR DID
NOT KNOW THEY WERE CREATING A CONFLICT,
ARTICLE 609 DOES, TO AN EXTENT, CREATE A
CONFLICT WITH THOSE OTHER ARTICLES, BECAUSE
IT SAYS THAT NOTWITHSTANDING ANY CLAIM OF
PRIVILEGED COMMUNICATION, ANY MANDATORY
REPORTER WHO HAS A CAUSE TO BELIEVE A
CHILDS PHYSICAL OR MENTAL HEALTH OR
WELFARE IS ENDANGERED AS A RESULT OF ABUSE
OR NEGLECT SHALL REPORT IN ACCORDANCE
WITH ARTICLE 610. TO KNOW WHETHER OR NOT HE
HAS A DUTY, THOUGH, WE HAVE TO KNOW WHAT
68n

HE LEARNED IN THE CONFESSION, AND HIS
INTERPRETATION OF WHAT HE LEARNED, AND HE
CANT TESTIFY ABOUT THAT. SO IT CERTAINLY
PUTS HIM IN A BAD POSITION IF REBECCA
TESTIFIES ABOUT IT. HE IS BASICALLY LEFT
WITHOUT A DEFENSE. ITS SOMEWHAT AKIN TO
THE FIFTH AMENDMENT RIGHTS [sic] AGAINST
SELF-INCRIMINATION. THINKING OUT LOUD, AND
PLAYING DEVILS ADVOCATE, HOWEVER, AS I
HAVE NOTED BEFORE, THE PRIVILEGE FOR
CONFIDENTIAL COMMUNICATIONS TO A PRIEST
UNDER THE CODE OF EVIDENCE CLEARLY BELONG
[sic] TO THE COMMUNICANT. AND THE
COMMUNICANT CAN WAIVE THAT. AS INDICATED,
ITS BEEN DONE SOMETIME LATER WHEN IT WAS
TOO LATE TO MAKE ANY REPORT, BUT THE
QUESTION IS GOING TO BE WHETHER WHAT
REBECCA SAID DURING THOSE PERIODS, NUMBER
ONE, WAS IT CONFIDENTIAL COMMUNICATION;
AND NUMBER TWO, WHAT RELEVANCE DOES IT
HAVE IF FATHER BAHYI [sic] IS EXEMPTED FROM
THE MANDATORY REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.
AGAIN, THIS IS SOMETHING WE SHOULD HAVE HAD
A HEARING ON AND HAD TESTIMONY ON AND
WORKED OUT WELL IN ADVANCE OF THE MORNING
BEFORE TRIAL. MY RULING AT THIS TIME, AND
THIS IS A SUBJECT TO CHANGE BETWEEN NOW AND
1:30, OR BETWEEN NOW AND THE TIME REBECCA IS
CALLED TO TESTIFY, THAT IT APPEARS TO BE
RELEVANT, AND THAT SHE HAS THE RIGHT UNDER
THE CODE OF EVIDENCE ARTICLE 511, OR
WHATEVER IT IS, TO TESTIFY ABOUT IT. SO AT
THIS POINT, THE MOTION IS DENIED. BUT
OBVIOUSLY IM GOING TO CONTINUE TO STEW ON
THIS, AND ITS SUBJECT TO A CHANGE OF OPINION.
69n

* * *
MR. DESHAZO: JUDGE, RESPECTFULLY, AND I
CAN TELL YOU ARE OBVIOUSLY STRUGGLING
WITH THIS, BUT OUR INCLINATION AND OUR
REQUEST IS GOING TO BE THAT THE TRIAL BE
CONTINUED FOR SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, BECAUSE
WE INTEND, IF THE INTERPRETATION OF 609 IS
THAT IT CREATES AN OBLIGATION ON THE PRIEST
TO DIVULGE WHAT HAPPENS DURING CONFESSION,
OR DURING AN ALLEGED CONFESSION, THAT IT IS
IN GRAVE VIOLATION OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT
AND THAT WE WILL BE SEEKING DECLARATORY
AND PRELIMINARY INJUNCTIVE RELIEF TO STOP
THAT FROM HAPPENING. BECAUSE WE CANT
IMAGINE SOMETHING MORE IMPORTANT THAN A
DETERMINATION ON THIS QUESTION.
THE COURT: I THINK YOURE CORRECT, AND I
CERTAINLY THATS WHY I WISH IT HAD COME UP
EARLIER, BECAUSE
* * *
I HAVENT MADE A RULING ON HIS MOTION. IM
JUST GIVING MY THOUGHTS. * * * THIS IS
CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT I WOULD WANT
ANOTHER COURT LOOKING AT, AND I THINK
ANOTHER COURT SHOULD LOOK AT IT.

?0n

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k k k k k k
I !I: Mnyoux, !Isn M.; Mnyoux, !oborf . of nI.; -
IInInfIff(s); AIyIng Ior !ohonrIng of fhIs courf`s
ncfIon dnfod ArII 4, 20l4, InrIsh of I. Infon !ougo,
l9fh JudIcInI IsfrIcf Courf Iv. I, o. 580066; fo fho
Courf of AonI, IIrsf CIrcuIf, o. 20l3 CW 03l6;
k k k k k k

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!ohonrIng donIod.
M!C
IJJ
?ln

JTK
JH
VICTO!Y, J., dIssonfs from fho donInI of rohonrIng
nnd wouId grnnf nnd dockof nnd nssIgns ronsons.
WIIMI!, Jr., rocusod.
C!I!Y, J., concurs nnd nssIgns ronsons.

Suromo Courf of !ouIsInnn
Mny 23, 20l4

/s/
!obIn A. Iurrns
oufy CIork of Courf
Ior fho Courf

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,%.)# %( *!!"*4U ($)/# ,$),.$#U
!*)$/1 %( "*/# 3*#%& )%.2"

C!I!Y, J., concurs In fho donInI of rohonrIng wIfh
ronsons.
Tho rIvIIogo cronfod by !n. Codo of IvId. nrf. 5ll
Is for confIdonfInI communIcnfIons, fhnf Is,
communIcnfIons mndo rIvnfoIy nnd nof Infondod for
furfhor dIscIosuro by fho orson fo n cIorgymnn In hIs
rofossIonnI chnrncfor ns n sIrIfunI ndvIsor, nnd
boIongs fo fho communIcnnf. Thoro Is no oxross
sfnfufory rIvIIogo, oxcofIon fo fho roorfIng
mnndnfo, or ovon nrfIcuInr roforonco fo
communIcnfIons durIng fho CnfhoIIc Sncrnmonf of
!oconcIIInfIon or ConfossIon. Whofhor or nof fho
communIcnfIon wns nrf of n confossIon or so ns
?3n

fhnf form Is undorsfood In roIIgIous docfrIno, mny bo
nn occIosInsfIcnI robIom for fho rIosf, buf If doos
nof nonr fo bo roIovnnf horo fo consIdornfIon of fho
monnIng nnd Infonf of fho !ouIsInnn sfnfufos
InvoIvod In fhIs cnso.

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VICTO!Y, J., ISSITS I!OM THI IIA! OI
!IHIA!IC A WO!! C!AT A OCKIT.

I dIssonf from fho mnjorIfy`s docIsIon fo dony
rohonrIng nnd wouId grnnf nnd dockof fho cnso for
fuII nrgumonf nnd brIofIng by fho nrfIos fo consIdor
whofhor fho roorfIng roquIromonf of !n. Ch. C. nrf.
609 ovorrIdos nny rIvIIogo fhnf mny ofhorwIso bo
cInImod by fho rIosf. Af fho vory Ionsf, I wouId
grnnf rohonrIng fo corrocf fho or curInm whIch
romnnds fho cnso fo fho frInI courf fo doformIno
whofhor fho communIcnfIons bofwoon fho rIosf nnd
fho mInor woro confossIons per ee. Insfond, fho
roor InquIry wouId bo whofhor fho communIcnfIons
woro confIdonfInI communIcnfIons undor !n. C.I.
nrf. 5ll nnd !n. Ch.C. nrf. 603(l5). of onIy Is n
confossIon per ee undofInod In fho or curInm, If hns
?5n

no IognI roIovnnco fo fhIs cnso.
Ior fho nbovo ronsons, I rosocffuIIy dIssonf from
fho donInI of rohonrIng.
?6n

CO!!T OI AIIIA!, II!ST CI!C!IT
STATI OI !O!ISIAA

!I: OCKIT !MII! 20l3 CW 03l6

!oborf . Mnyoux nnd !Isn M. Mnyoux

- - Vorsus - -

Coorgo J. ChnrIof, Jr., doconsod
ChnrIof IunornI Homo, Inc.,
!ovorond M. Joffroy InyhI nnd fho
!omnn CnfhoIIc Church of fho
Iocoso Of Infon !ougo

l9
fh
JudIcInI IsfrIcf Courf
Cnso #: 580066
Insf Infon !ougo InrIsh
TrInI Courf o. 580066
HonornbIo !. MIchnoI CnIdwoII, Judgo

On AIIcnfIon for !ohonrIng fIIod on ll/04/20l3 by
!oborf . Mnyoux, of nI
!ohonrIng onIod.

??n

/s/
!nndoIh H. Inrro

/s/
Jnmos I. Kuhn

/s/
John T. IoffIgrow

IIIod: ov l2 20l3

/s/
ChrIsfIno !. Crow, CIork

?8n

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5KLMmU
%$.'3626$3 -+ 4C7 ,J?FB7 ,<BA *==7 CH>D7
8KMlLPml;m l5KLjm

0Aa?=?>?<=D
As usod In fhIs TIfIo:
(l?) Mnndnfory roorfor Is nny of fho foIIowIng
IndIvIdunIs:
(c) Mombor of fho cIorgy Is nny rIosf, rnbbI,
duIy ordnInod cIorIcnI doncon or mInIsfor,
ChrIsfInn ScIonco rncfIfIonor, or ofhor
sImIInrIy sIfunfod funcfIonnry of n roIIgIous
orgnnIznfIon, oxcof fhnf ho Is nof roquIrod fo
roorf n confIdonfInI communIcnfIon, ns
dofInod In Codo of IvIdonco ArfIcIo 5ll, from n
orson fo n mombor of fho cIorgy who, In fho
courso of fho dIscIIIno or rncfIco of fhnf
church, donomInnfIon, or orgnnIznfIon, Is
nufhorIzod or nccusfomod fo honrIng
confIdonfInI communIcnfIons, nnd undor fho
dIscIIIno or fonofs of fho church,
donomInnfIon, or orgnnIznfIon hns n dufy fo
koo such communIcnfIons confIdonfInI. In fhnf
Insfnnco, ho shnII oncourngo fhnf orson fo
roorf fho nIIognfIons fo fho nrorInfo

?9n

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9C=BC><H^ C=B _AHY?>>AB HA_<H>?=XW >HC?=?=X
HAn@?HAYA=>D
A. WIfh rosocf fo mnndnfory roorfors:
(l) ofwIfhsfnndIng nny cInIm of rIvIIogod
communIcnfIon, nny mnndnfory roorfor who hns
cnuso fo boIIovo fhnf n chIId's hysIcnI or monfnI
honIfh or woIfnro Is ondnngorod ns n rosuIf of
nbuso or nogIocf or fhnf nbuso or nogIocf wns n
confrIbufIng fncfor In n chIId's donfh shnII roorf
In nccordnnco wIfh ArfIcIo 6l0.
(2) VIoInfIon of fho dufIos Imosod uon n
mnndnfory roorfor subjocfs fho offondor fo
crImInnI rosocufIon nufhorIzod by !.S.
l4:403(A)(l).
(3) (n) To fnmIIInrIzo mnndnfory roorfors, ns
dofInod by ChIIdron's Codo ArfIcIo 603(l5),
wIfh fhoIr IognI mnndnfo for roorfIng
susocfod chIId nbuso nnd nogIocf, such
mnndnfory roorfors shnII bo offorod frnInIng
on fho sfnfufory roquIromonfs nnd
rosonsIbIIIfy of roorfIng chIId nbuso nnd
nogIocf. ThIs frnInIng shnII bo mndo nvnIInbIo
by fho chIId woIfnro dIvIsIon of fho onrfmonf
of ChIIdron nnd InmIIy SorvIcos or nny ofhor
mochnnIsm ns nrovod by fho donrfmonf ns
Iong ns If IncIudos InformnfIon on fho roorfIng
rocoduro nnd fho consoquoncos of fnIIIng fo
roorf.
(b) Inch mnndnfory roorfor mny obfnIn
mnndnfory roorfIng frnInIng ns onch
80n

mnndnfory roorfor boIIovos fo bo nocossnry In
nccordnnco wIfh Subnrngrnh (n) or (d) of fhIs
Inrngrnh.
(c) Tho nrorInfo sfnfo roguInfory
donrfmonf, bonrd, commIssIon, or ngoncy for
onch cnfogory of mnndnfory roorfor mny
rovIdo confInuIng oducnfIon crodIf for fho
comIofIon of fho frnInIng ursunnf fo fhIs
Inrngrnh.
(d) Any onfIfy, IncIudIng buf nof IImIfod fo
hosIfnIs, oducnfIonnI nnd roIIgIous
InsfIfufIons, nnd nonrofIfs, mny rovIdo Ifs
omIoyoos, voIunfoors, or oducnfIonnI
nffondoos wIfh oquIvnIonf frnInIng ursunnf fo
Subnrngrnh (n) of fhIs Inrngrnh.
I. WIfh rosocf fo ormIffod roorfors, nny ofhor
orson hnvIng cnuso fo boIIovo fhnf n chIId's
hysIcnI or monfnI honIfh or woIfnro Is
ondnngorod ns n rosuIf of nbuso or nogIocf,
IncIudIng n judgo of nny courf of fhIs sfnfo, mny
roorf In nccordnnco wIfh ArfIcIo 6l0.
C. Tho fIIIng of n roorf, known fo bo fnIso, mny
subjocf fho offondor fo crImInnI rosocufIon
nufhorIzod by !.S. l4:403(A)(3).

4C7 ,?I7 ,<BA *==7 CH>7 5MLh l5KLKm
4?Cg?F?>^ a<H C;>D ;C@D?=X BCYCXAD
A. Ivory ncf whnfovor of mnn fhnf cnusos dnmngo fo
nnofhor obIIgos hIm by whoso fnuIf If hnonod fo
ronIr If.
8ln

I. nmngos mny IncIudo Ioss of consorfIum, sorvIco,
nnd socIofy, nnd shnII bo rocovornbIo by fho snmo
rosocfIvo cnfogorIos of orsons who wouId hnvo
hnd n cnuso of ncfIon for wrongfuI donfh of nn
Injurod orson. nmngos do nof IncIudo cosfs for
fufuro modIcnI fronfmonf, sorvIcos, survoIIInnco,
or rocoduros of nny kInd unIoss such fronfmonf,
sorvIcos, survoIIInnco, or rocoduros nro dIrocfIy
roInfod fo n mnnIfosf hysIcnI or monfnI Injury or
dIsonso. nmngos shnII IncIudo nny snIos fnxos
nId by fho ownor on fho ronIr or roIncomonf of
fho roorfy dnmngod.

4C7 ,?I7 ,<BA *==7 CH>7 5ML8 l5KLKm
&AXF?XA=;AU ?Y_H@BA=;A <H GC=> <a De?FF7
Ivory orson Is rosonsIbIo for fho dnmngo ho
occnsIons nof moroIy by hIs ncf, buf by hIs nogIIgonco,
hIs Imrudonco, or hIs wnnf of skIII.

4C7 ,<BA "I?B7 *==7 CH>7 hLL l5KK8m
,<YY@=?;C>?<=D >< ;FAHX^YA=
A. ofInIfIons. -- As usod In fhIs ArfIcIo:
(l) A "cIorgymnn" Is n mInIsfor, rIosf, rnbbI,
ChrIsfInn ScIonco rncfIfIonor, or ofhor sImIInr
funcfIonnry of n roIIgIous orgnnIznfIon, or nn
IndIvIdunI ronsonnbIy boIIovod so fo bo by fho
(2) A communIcnfIon Is "confIdonfInI" If If Is mndo
rIvnfoIy nnd nof Infondod for furfhor
82n

dIscIosuro oxcof fo ofhor orsons rosonf In
furfhornnco of fho uroso of fho
communIcnfIon.
I. ConornI ruIo of rIvIIogo. -- A orson hns n
rIvIIogo fo rofuso fo dIscIoso nnd fo rovonf
nnofhor orson from dIscIosIng n confIdonfInI
communIcnfIon by fho orson fo n cIorgymnn In
hIs rofossIonnI chnrncfor ns sIrIfunI ndvIsor.
C. Who mny cInIm fho rIvIIogo. -- Tho rIvIIogo mny
bo cInImod by fho orson or by hIs IognI
rorosonfnfIvo. Tho cIorgymnn Is rosumod fo
hnvo nufhorIfy fo cInIm fho rIvIIogo on bohnIf of
fho orson or doconsod orson.

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