Letter: Clergy should be required to report child abuse
(Jeremy Harmon | Tribune file photo) The Salt Lake Temple is seen on May 6, 2019.
In Utah, everyone is required to report child abuse to the authorities, with one notable exception: Members of the clergy are not required. H.B. 90 is a simple modification to the law, making everyone responsible for reporting child abuse and neglect.
Churches claim they take abuse seriously, require reporting of abuse, protect the children and hold their leadership accountable as representatives of God.
If church leadership and members from any religion are serious about protecting their members from abuse, they will fully support H.B. 90 and remove the special exception for clergy to not report abuse. Everyone should do the right thing and report child abuse, regardless if you are an educator, doctor, plumber or clergy.
Aaron Searle, Magna
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