![Judge Rules Law Violates Priest’s Religious Freedom Rights](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2015/01/Judges-Gavel-2-Getty.jpg?w=300&h=200&zc=1&s=0&a=t&q=89&w=980&q=75)
Judge Rules Law Violates Priest’s Religious Freedom Rights
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — A Louisiana judge has struck down a state requirement that clergy members report suspected child abuse even if they learn about it during a private confessional.
State District Judge Mike Caldwell ruled Friday that a Louisiana Children's Code provision violates the religious freedom rights of a Roman Catholic priest accused of neglecting his duty to report a teenager's abuse allegations to authorities.
The Advocate reports (http://bit.ly/1QC8VOT ) that Caldwell ruled in the Rev. Jeff Bayhi's favor in a lawsuit involving the Roman Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge.
Rebecca Mayeaux, the 22-year-old plaintiff, says she was 14 in 2008 when she told Bayhi during confession that a 64-year-old parishioner was sexually abusing her. Mayeaux claims Bayhi told her to "sweep it under the floor and get rid of it."
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Information from: The Advocate, http://theadvocate.com
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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