August 8, 2001
Source: The Boston Globe
On August 8, 2001, The Boston Globe reported that "in a significant reversal, the Catholic Church withdrew its opposition...to a bill that would force clergy to report suspected child abuse to the state. The church said it will now work to ensure the bill's passage, but declined to say why it changed its position...As proposed, the bill makes an exception for so-called privileged communication, allowing priests who learn of abuse in the confessional to keep the information secret."