A bishop is not required to maintain confidentiality. A friend of mine counseled with our bishop about ways she could improve her marriage. She very specifically asked him NOT to say anything to her husband. However, the bishop felt he could give the husband some good advice on treating his wife better. That did not end well. Husband berated wife for saying anything about their marriage to the bishop. She told me that she got yelled at for several days. I can sort of see his point -- once you tell your bishop or RS president, or home or visiting teacher anything, you may become a topic of ward council meetings. You know, they can't help you if they don't know all the dirt on you.butterfly wrote:So you're saying that a bishop is not legally required to maintain confidentiality in the same way that a therapist or mental health care professional is supposed to?lgr3065 wrote:Bishops are under no obligation for confidentiality-state and federal laws override in many cases. If members had any idea to the extent their confidences have been and are being betrayed, they would be appalled! Have personal knowledge of the lack of confidentiality. Church teaches guilt (such as the temple recommend questions). Christ teaches forgiveness. Be very careful what you discuss. Obrien is correct, there is nothing in scripture that says you must go to a man with more power or Priesthood than you to be forgiven.
In what way exactly would state or federal laws override confidentiality? (I expect they would in the case of child abuse or someone planning to harm themselves).
Knowing what I know after serving as RS president, I will never tell any ward member, including the bishop, anything I don't want announced over the pulpit.