An expert is questioning a state lawmaker's legal reasoning for shielding church leaders from discussing what they know about an alleged child sex abuse case.
According to Mississippi College School of Law professor matt Steffey, state law doesn't exempt ministers from reporting a crime.
"The law's primary concern is not to protect ministers in the performance of their duties but to protect children."
Republican Philip Gunn, who represents Clinton and hopes to be the next Speaker of the state House, says he supports a bill that requires someone to report suspected child abuse to authorities.
But as attorney for Morrison Heights Baptist Church in Clinton, Gunn denied Hinds County prosecutors' request to question church leaders about what the suspect may have told them about his alleged crimes.
John Lang worthy is the accused sex offender.
He spent 22-years at Morrison Heights and has admitted to sexually abusing boys years ago.
Langworthy’s suspected victims were members of two different churches in Jackson.
Steffey says the privilege rule Gunn cites only applies during trial, and not when prosecutors are investigating a crime.
“There is a difference between saying you don't have to testify in court at the end of the day years down the road if somebody is put on trial and it's another thing to say you don't have to alert authorities that a child may be victimized or in danger," he says.
Langworthy is set to go to trial in the Spring.
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