OHIO
The Advocate
By KENT MALLETT
Advocate Reporter
NEWARK -- Clergy would be required to report suspected sexual abuse according to a bill pending in the Ohio Senate.
The Senate Criminal Justice Committee was expected to vote today on the bill, which allows victims of child sexual abuse that happened as long ago as 1970 to sue alleged perpetrators under Ohio law. To become law, the bill must also pass the full Senate, which could consider it today.
The bill, sponsored by Republican Sen. Robert Spada, would require clergy and other church leaders to report abuse they suspect is being committed by other clergy or church leaders.
Rev. Joseph Leonard, president of the Licking County Ministerial Association and pastor of First Baptist Church of Newark, said the requirement could create some problems for clergy.
"It does begin to address issues of confidentiality within the clergy, which is a concern of mine," Leonard said. "They need to have a sense of confidentiality, but that doesn't mean you keep everything secret."