Counselors in religious settings face many difficult legal decisions.
One of the most frequent decisions is whether or not to report suspect
ed child abuse or neglect. The Washington State Supreme Court recently
upheld the convictions of two church-based counselors for failure to
inform state officials of suspected child abuse. The reasons given for
this decision are discussed. The court's interpretations of state and
federal laws have far-reaching implications for counselors who seek t
o blend religious faith and clinical practice. Such counselors would b
e wise to consider the court's findings and interpretations vis-a-vis
their own clinical work and their understanding of how faith informs p
ractice.