Court Opinion

ID: 9879620
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-27 18:28:41.396623+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:47:58.275826
License: Public Domain

REIF, J., dissenting
¶ 1 John Doe seeks to hold the Presbyterian Church liable for harm that was perpetrated against him by the independent acts of third parties who oppose Christian teachings. He contends the Church is liable because it posted news of his baptism on the internet when he did not want that information disclosed. To be sure, the law does protect and enforce the confidentiality of religious communications "made privately and not intended for further disclosure." 12 O.S.2011, § 2505. However, John Doe's baptism was an *299act, not a communication, and sharing news of this act is part of the religious doctrine of the Presbyterian Church. If a societal need does exist to keep conversion to a religious faith confidential, it would be more appropriate for the Legislature to address this subject by general legislation like § 2505, rather than for this Court to create a new cause of action in response to extraordinary facts.