Multistate Bar Examination Practice Question

The clergy-penitent privilege generally protects confidential communications made by a person to a member of the clergy in their professional capacity as a spiritual advisor. For the privilege to apply, the communication must typically be made in confidence, and the clergy member must be acting in their role as a spiritual leader. The incorrect answers misstate critical components — for example, suggesting that the privilege forces clergy to testify in violation of the communicant's intent or mischaracterizing its applicability to different types of cases. These statements conflict with the traditional principles of the privilege, which prioritizes confidentiality and respect for spiritual practice.