HOUSE BILL NO. 6517

A bill to amend 1961 PA 236, entitled

"Revised judicature act of 1961,"

by amending section 2156 (MCL 600.2156).

the people of the state of michigan enact:

Sec. 2156. (1) No minister of the gospel, or priest of any denomination whatsoever, or duly accredited Christian Science practitioner, A cleric shall be allowed to not disclose and must not be allowed to disclose any confessions made to him the cleric in his the cleric's professional character, capacity as a spiritual advisor in the course of discipline enjoined by the rules or practice of such denomination the religious organization.

(2) This section does not apply to a confession of past physical violence against a third person, or the threat of physical violence against a reasonably identifiable third person if the individual making the threat has the apparent intent and ability to carry out the threat in the foreseeable future.

(3) As used in this section, "cleric" means a minister, priest, rabbi, accredited Christian Science practitioner, or other similar functionary of a religious organization, or an individual reasonably believed to be such a functionary by the individual consulting the cleric.