Religious confession privilege at the common law [electronic resource] / by A. Keith Thompson.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Thompson, A. K. (Anthony Keith)

Series:

Studies in religion, secular beliefs, and human rights ; v. 9.

Studies in religion, secular beliefs, and human rights, 1871-7829 ; v. 9

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Liberty of conscience.

Freedom of religion.

Confession (Law).

Confession (Canon law).

Evidence (Law).

Evidence (Canon law).

Confidential communications.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (423 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Leiden ; Boston [Mass.] : M. Nijhoff Publishers, 2011.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

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.

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.

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

1-283-11936-6

9786613119360

90-474-2579-0

OCLC:

727948505

Publisher Number:

10.1163/ej.9789004172326.i-395 DOI