Rhode Island Confidential Clergy Communications Privilege Statute

GENERAL LAWS OF RHODE ISLAND

TITLE 9. Courts and Civil Procedure – Procedure Generally.Chapter 17. Witnesses.

§ 9-17-23. Privileged communications to clergy. In the trial of every cause, both civil and criminal, no member of the clergy or priest shall be competent to testify concerning any confession made to him or her in his or her professional character in the course of discipline enjoined by the church to which he or she belongs, without the consent of the person making the confession. No duly ordained minister of the gospel, priest, or rabbi of any denomination shall be allowed in giving testimony to disclose any confidential communication, properly entrusted to him or her in his or her professional capacity, and necessary and proper to enable him or her to discharge the functions of his or her office in the usual course of practice or discipline, without the consent of the person making the communication.