Given that most child abuse happens in the home, one might ask why attorneys are not mandated reporters.

This thread is about how religious privilege will prevent the reporting of some abuse.

Do you have anything to say about that?

Too bad it doesn't mean what you think it does.

It doesn't state that you are INTENDING to have "two wrongs make a right." No one is claiming that's what you're doing, either.

Whataboutism in itself means that any wrong can be dismissed if you can bring up another wrong that you present as worse, or more encompassing. As you continue to do with the Chinese government, trying to associate their policies with atheism. You seek to squelch discussion of religious intolerance by presenting general intolerance as the REAL problem. The WORSE problem.

There are many kinds of intolerance, g. Religious intolerance is real, and one of them.

I am sorry that upsets you so much. But closing your eyes to it and denying it will only perpetuate it. That's evil.

Most mandatory reporter laws list those that are in frequent contact with children. Hence the reason attorneys are not explicitly on that list.

So your example does not apply.

is to ensure that the suspect gets a fair trial. Since the lawyer (and only the lawyer) is legally bound to protect the client, it would be a conflict of interest and prejudicial to his client to report the crime. Although our society breaks many privileged communications to protect children, the principle of innocent until proven guilty is enshrined in the Constitution thus we also acknowledge that the accused also has rights that need to be protected. The only way to protect these rights is to provide the accused with at least one legal expert who's only duty is to protect him.

In my opinion, this law is an attempt to satisfy both sides.

Probably out of concern for separation of church and state.

I think that they are wrong, but they did not ask me.

You think they are wrong?

Do you believe that priests SHOULD have to reveal evidence of child abuse that they receive in confessional?

That would be a change in your position. Please confirm.

that any member of the clergy should be required to report child abuse, ever.

But I am certain he will not give a clear answer.

But the law says that any denomination that claims the privilege will get it. This avoids appearing to give the RCC special treatment but also makes the law worthless.

And the Virginia Legislature obviously deferred to it.