Earlier this week, Howard Friedman posted an interesting piece on Religion Clause, Penitent May Testify To Her Statements To Priest In Confession, about a US case on the confidentiality of sacramental confession. In February a Louisiana trial court had held that a plaintiff suing a priest and the Roman Catholic Church could legitimately testify that in 2008 she had told the priest in confession that she was being abused by a parishioner.

The Church and the priest appealed on grounds of confidentiality; but in Mayeux v Charlet LA App, July 29, 2016, in a 2-1 decision, the appeals court upheld the trial court. Continue reading →