A Senate committee on Wednesday enthusiastically endorsed a bill requiring clergy members to report suspicions of child abuse, but critics of the measure say it contains a gaping loophole that renders the measure meaningless.
The proposal, which passed the Senate Judiciary Committee without dissent, would add clergy members to the list of professionals who, by law, must tell authorities when they learn of abuse or neglect or suspect it.
But advocates for rape victims object to the addition of one line to the bill that explicitly preserves the confidentiality privilege for clergy members who come by such knowledge when acting as a spiritual adviser.
“Clergy members have said to us that everything they do in their professional capacity is in the context of spiritual advising,” said Lyn Schollett, attorney for the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault.
Inspired by recent allegations of sexual assault by priests in the Catholic Church, the measure is designed to require church officials to report suspicions that a member of the clergy has abused a child. It mirrors attempts under way in several other states, as outraged lawmakers attempt to add another safeguard to protect children from harm.
Already, state law requires teachers, social workers and other professionals who interact with children to report any evidence or even suspicions of abuse, but clergy members are currently exempt. Church leaders have vehemently fought attempts to require priests and other members of the clergy to divulge information they learn while in the confidence of their parishioners.
On Wednesday, almost a dozen church leaders voiced their support for the measure.
Other supporters of the measure said that the proposal is narrowly crafted to protect the privacy of the confessional, but that the bill still is designed to greatly increase the responsibility upon clergy members who learn of abuse in the context of their jobs.
“There are many communications between people and their clergy not covered by the privilege,” said Sen. Carl Hawkinson (R-Galesburg), chairman of the Judiciary Committee. “If I talk to my pastor in the hallway, then it doesn’t apply.”
Critics disagree.
“Clergy members should have the same responsibilities that other professionals who interact with children have, to expose this abuse when they learn of it,” Schollett said. “As a result of this one line, though, they could make a very good argument they don’t have to disclose any instance of abuse that they learn about.”
Also Wednesday, the Senate sent to the governor legislation that would allow the Illinois treasurer to invest state resources in Israel and other friendly countries. The bill, which earlier passed the House, is aimed at letting Illinois buy State of Israel bonds, an investment that proponents said will increase the economic ties Illinois already shares with that country.
Rep. Jeffrey Schoenberg (D-Evanston) called the legislation timely in light of the crisis in the Middle East.
“Given the existing strong economic relationship between Illinois and Israel, this legislation gives the state the ability to further protect and strengthen those existing close economic ties,” said Schoenberg, the House sponsor.
The Republican-controlled Senate also passed legislation on a 30-25 vote that would prevent election officials from using ballot tabulators to flag so-called undervotes, giving voters a second chance to mark choices in races they may have omitted from their ballots. The measure is aimed at Cook County and Chicago, which in the March primary became the first large jurisdictions in the nation to use undervote technology.
Senate President James “Pate” Philip (R-Wood Dale) said the procedure violates the sanctity of the ballot, but Senate Minority Leader Emil Jones (D-Chicago) argued that Republicans were against helping people who become confused in the voting booth.
