Religious confession privilege at the common law / by A. Keith Thompson.

• Superior document: Studies in religion, secular beliefs, and human rights, v. 9
• Author: Thompson, A. K.
• Year of Publication: 2011
• Edition: 1st ed.
• Language: English
• Series: Studies in religion, secular beliefs, and human rights ; v. 9.
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (423 p.)
• Notes: Description based upon print version of record.

Does religious confession privilege exist at common law? Most evidence law texts answer ‘no’. This analysis shows that most of the cases relied upon for the ‘no religious confession privilege conclusion’ are not authority for that conclusion. The origin of the privilege in the canon law in the first millennium AD is traced and its reception into common law is documented. Proof that religious confession privilege continues unbroken at common law through to the present day is of obvious importance in jurisdictions where there is no relevant statute. A correct understanding of the common law extant before statutes were passed will influence whether those statutes are broadly or narrowly interpreted. The book also brings the reader up to date on the state of religious confession privilege in the United States, Canada, England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

Table of Contents

Preliminary Material / A. K. Thompson -- Introduction / A. K. Thompson -- Chapter One. Review Of Religious Confession Privilege In Early Evidence Texts / A. K. Thompson -- Chapter Two. Religious Confession Privilege In Historical Context / A. K. Thompson -- Chapter Three. Religious Confession And Privilege In Canon Law / A. K. Thompson -- Chapter Four. Religious Confession Privilege At Common Law From The Seventeenth To The Twentieth Century / A. K. Thompson -- Chapter Five. Religious Communications Privilege At Common Law / A. K. Thompson -- Chapter Six. Theories About The Extinction Of Religious Confession Privilege / A. K. Thompson -- Chapter Seven. Religious Confession Privilege At Common Law In Australia / A. K. Thompson -- Chapter Eight. Religious Confession Privilege At Common Law In The United Kingdom And Ireland / A. K. Thompson -- Chapter Nine. Religious Confession Privilege In The United States / A. K. Thompson -- Chapter Ten. Religious Confession Privilege In Canada And New Zealand / A. K. Thompson -- Chapter Eleven. Religious Confession Privilege In South Africa / A. K. Thompson -- Chapter Twelve. Policy – Should There Be A Religious Confession Privilege? / A. K. Thompson -- Conclusion / A. K. Thompson -- Bibliography / A. K. Thompson -- Index / A. K. Thompson.