Howard Fischer/Capitol Media Services

Arizona Reps. Stacey Travers (left) and Quang Nugyen.

An Arizona Democratic state representative wants to make it mandatory for clergy to report ongoing child abuse and neglect to law enforcement if they learn about it in a confessional setting.

Rep. Stacey Travers’ bill was blocked from being heard in committee earlier this year by Republican Rep. Quang Nguyen.

Travers said the bill came out of an incident in Bisbee, where bishops cited clergy privilege for not disclosing a man’s confession to sexually abusing his young daughter.

“I know that if children continue to be sexually abused, and there is a social structure that allows that abuse to continue, then we haven't done our duty to the children that we are trying to protect," Travers said.

Clergy members must disclose abuse they personally witness, but do not have to report what is said during confession.

Travers bill would remove the exception if clergy members have knowledge or reasonable suspicion of ongoing child abuse or neglect. 

Nguyen, who is Catholic, says the bill is an affront to his faith and could open the road to future laws changing what he said is a sacrament.

“The victim has the parents. The victim has the teachers. The victim has friends. The victim has relatives that he or she is close to. So it doesn't need a priest to be able to go to court and testify," He said.

Nguyen says he is unlikely to let the bill proceed during the next session, but is willing to meet with Travers.