Legal State Laws on the Reporting of Child Abuse
We, imho, are rightfully indignant that the WTBTS does not necessitate the reporting of suspected child abuse to the proper state officials. State by state, the laws vary - but the cruelty to the child does not. Following is a sample of the current laws in some states. At the actual website, all states are printed for you to look up and question the variances: http://www.calib.com/nccanch/pubs/stats00/mandrep.pdf
National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information Page 7
ARIZONA Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 13-3620(A) (West, WESTLAW through 1999 1 st Reg. Sess. & 2 nd Sp. Sess.)
WHO MUST REPORT
§ Physicians, hospital interns or residents, surgeons, dentists, osteopaths, chiropractors, podiatrists, county medical examiners, nurses, psychologists; § School personnel, social workers, peace officers, parents, counselors, clergymen, priests, or any other person having responsibility for care or treatment of children.
CIRCUMSTANCES
When their observation or examination of any minor discloses reasonable grounds to believe that a minor is or has been the victim of injury, sexual abuse, sexual conduct with a minor, sexual assault, molestation, commercial sexual exploitation of a minor, sexual exploitation of a minor, incest, child prostitution, death, abuse, physical neglect which appears to have been inflicted on that minor by other than accidental means or which is not explained by the available medical history as being accidental in nature, or denial or deprivation of necessary medical treatment or surgical care or nourishment with the intent to cause or allow the death of an infant less than one year of age.
PRIVILEGED COMMUNICATIONS
Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 13-3620(A) (West, WESTLAW through 1999 1 st Reg. Sess. & 2 nd Sp. Sess.)
A clergyman or priest who has received a confidential communication or a confession in that person's role as a clergyman or priest in the course of the discipline enjoined by the church to which the clergyman or priest belongs may withhold reporting of the communication or confession if the clergyman or priest determines that it is reasonable and necessary in the concepts of the religion."
Why do the State laws vary so much as to who has to report? Politicians. Perhaps in our indignance, it would behoove us to start writing to our state senators, legislators, governors, etc., to question why these variances are not rectified. The WTBTS is playing politics just like the politicians - no better, no worse.
The WTBTS just made us think they were better than those they condemned.
waiting
Edited by - waiting on 20 January 2001 12:4:58
