During the last few years, there has been a great deal of publicity re: the sexual abuse of young children by Catholic priests. Because of this publicity, many states have passed laws that demand people report neglect and abuse. Also, other laws have lengthened the time that victims can bring their cases to courts seeking justice and/or money. However, there seems to be a misunderstanding. The states did NOT pass laws saying that the laws ONLY applied to Catholic priests or the Catholic Church. These laws apply to EVERYONE!
If someone in a family sexually abuses a child and you know about this, you have to call the police. If you do not do this, then the police can arrest YOU! Why? Because you knew about a crime and did nothing. 75% of ALL sexual abuse takes place in families. If someone in the family is sexually molesting a child, YOUR duty is to protect the child, NOT the abuser!
If you work(or are a volunteer) in a school, a summer camp, a gym,a travelling team, a social club and you suspect a child is the victim of sexual abuse, you MUST call the police. If a child tells you a story about someone touching them sexually or threatening them to shut up and you do not report it, then the police can arrest YOU! Why? Because you did not report the endangerment of a child.
If you are involved in a church, mosque, synagogue - any religious group - and someone sexually abuses a child, has child pornography, etc. you MUST call the police. If you do not, later on the child, as an adult, can sue YOU. Why? Because you knew about the crime and did nothing! People have sued the Catholic Church for hundreds of millions of dollars. Why? Because Church leaders knew about sexual abuse and did not report it. If they sued the Catholic Church, they can sue ANY religious group.
If you are Jewish,a Muslim, Jehovah's Witness, Mormon, Baptist, whatever, and you suffered sexual abuse as a member of that religion, you have the right to sue that group for the abuse you suffered.
No one - NO ONE! - has the right to sexually abuse any child, at any time, for any reason.