Opinion ID: 1281541
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Availability of Insurance

Text: As several commentators observe, although lawsuits stemming from spiritual counseling are few, a new type of clergyman malpractice insurance has been offered to religious organizations to protect against potential liability for spiritual counseling that causes injury. (See, e.g., Note, Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress by Spiritual Counselors: Can Outrageous Conduct Be Free Exercise? (1986) 84 Mich.L.Rev. 1296, 1300, fn. 12.) Apparently, such insurance provides coverage to religious congregations and their pastors for damages caused by the counseling activities of the pastors while acting within the scope of their duties. ( Ibid. ) The value of such insurance, however, is unknown and difficult to determine because few cases have been filed against the clergy.