Opinion ID: 1779062
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 18

Heading: Priest-Penitent

Text: ś 116. The Diocese also seeks protection from production of certain documents pursuant to the Priest-Penitent privilege, codified at Miss. R. Evid. 505. The general rule of the privilege is: A person has a privilege to refuse to disclose and prevent another from disclosing a confidential communication by the person to a clergyman in his professional character as spiritual adviser. Miss. R. Evid. 505(b). ś 117. Although the diocese claims this privilege for most files, it does not apply unless the communication was made to a clergyman [or woman] in his [or her] professional character as spiritual adviser. Miss. R. Evid. 505(b). Most of the documents claimed to be protected were clearly not directed to anyone in their professional character as spiritual adviser. Such documents are therefore not protected by this privilege. However, several documents we reviewed, such as letters seeking spiritual guidance or intercessory prayer, obviously fall under the protection of this privilege, and must not be provided to the Morrisons, absent a waiver of the privilege. The Diocese must list all such documents in the privilege log, discussed infra.