The Georgia State Senate has unanimously approved legislation that aims to strengthen criminal accountability for clergy sexual abuse in the state.
Filed on Feb. 20, SB-542 seeks to amend Chapter 6 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated. This statute governs “improper sexual contract by employee or agent,” and lawmakers want to include members within its scope. The current law only applies to certain individuals in power, such as educators or law enforcement, according to Baptist News.
If the bill passes, clergy members could face criminal charges for engaging in sexually explicit conduct or sexual contact with a person who is under spiritual authority or receiving pastoral counseling. Consent cannot be used as a legal defense when a position of authority is used to obtain sexual access.
The legislation in Georgia’s State Senate passed unanimously 55-0 and attracted bipartisan support.
“Today the Georgia Senate sent a clear message: Spiritual authority must never be used as a weapon for sexual exploitation,” said abuse survivor Hayle Swinson, who testified in late February in support of the bill.
Swinson testified that she endured sexual abuse while she was a student at Truett McConnell University, when the vice president of student services, Bradley Reynolds, allegedly groomed her by becoming a personal spiritual mentor. She said he eventually abused her in the basement of his home several times.
“This unanimous vote tells survivors across our state that our voices matter and that accountability applies to every position of power, including religious leaders in our institutions,” Swinson added.
Senate Bill 542 now moves to the Georgia House of Representatives.