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Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes

42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5943 (2026)

 Confidential communications to clergymen.

✓ current as of May 2026
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§ 5943.  Confidential communications to clergymen.

No clergyman, priest, rabbi or minister of the gospel of any regularly established church or religious organization, except clergymen or ministers, who are self-ordained or who are members of religious organizations in which members other than the leader thereof are deemed clergymen or ministers, who while in the course of his duties has acquired information from any person secretly and in confidence shall be compelled, or allowed without consent of such person, to disclose that information in any legal proceeding, trial or investigation before any government unit.

 

Cross References.  Section 5943 is referred to in sections 4415, 4436 of this title; sections 566, 586 of Title 2 (Administrative Law and Procedure); section 6311.1 of Title 23 (Domestic Relations).

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 19 cases (5 in the last 5 years), 1984–2026 · leading case: Commonwealth v. Stewart, 690 A.2d 195 (Pa. 1997).
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Commonwealth v. Stewart, 690 A.2d 195 (Pa. 1997). · cites it 6× “The Diocese claimed that the clergy-communicant privilege, 42 Pa.C.S. § 5943, which precludes disclosure of confidential information provided to members of the clergy in the course of their duties, protects the requested documents from discovery.”
Com., Dept. of Transp. v. Taylor, 841 A.2d 108 (Pa. 2004). · cites it 2× “42 Pa.C.S. § 5943. The scope of the privilege set forth in the clergy-communicant statute is not self-effectuating; construction was obviously required to determine what qualified as secret, confidential information acquired by a clergyman "in the course of his duties.”
Commonwealth v. Spetzer, 813 A.2d 707 (Pa. 2002). · cites it 2× “2d 195, 198-200 (1997) (construing clergy-communicant privilege (42 Pa.C.S. § 5943) and holding that, to fall within that privilege, communication must have been made to clergyman "in his or her capacity as confessor or spiritual advisor;" "limiting the privilege to…”
Hutchison v. Luddy, 606 A.2d 905 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1992). · cites it 2× “who while in the course of his duties has acquired information from any person secretly and in confidence shall be compelled, or allowed without consent of such person, to disclose that information in any legal proceeding, trial or investigation before any government unit.”
Commonwealth v. Patterson, 572 A.2d 1258 (Pa. 1990). · cites it 2× “He argues that Reverend Dickson is a duly ordained clergyman, appellant attended his church with his wife, and communications to a clergyman are privileged under 42 Pa.C.S. § 5943; 1 see *343 also Commonwealth v.”
In Re Grand Jury Investigation. Appeal of United States of Am., 918 F.2d 374 (3rd Cir. 1990). “260 (1989); 42 Pa.Cons.Stat. § 5943 (1988); R.I.Gen. Laws § 9-17-23 (1989); S.”
Matter of Adoption of Embick, 506 A.2d 455 (Pa. 1986). “§ 5942; confidential communications to clergymen, 42 Pa.C.S. § 5943; confidential communications between psychologist and client, 42 Pa.”
Sprague v. Walter, 543 A.2d 1078 (Pa. 1988). “*435 Traditionally, the recognition of privileged information in this Commonwealth has been designed to permit uninhibited disclosure between parties sharing a unique relationship.”
Sprague v. Walter, 516 A.2d 706 (Pa. 1986). “§ 5929 (Doctor—Patient); 42 Pa.C.S. § 5943 (Priest —Penitent). 5 .”
Fahlfeder v. Commonwealth, 470 A.2d 1130 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 1984). “Section 5943 of the Judicial Code, 42 Pa. C. S. §5943, provides: No clergyman, priest, rabbi or minister of the gospel of any regularly established church .”
Commonwealth v. Williams, 729 A.2d 603 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1999). “The request for documents in Hutchison was made to a party who claimed the sought after files were protected by 42 Pa.C.S. § 5943 which creates a privilege from disclosure in legal proceedings for communications made in confidence to a clergyman, priest, rabbi or minister.”
Ivy Hill Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses v. Com. of PA, DHS (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2026). · cites it 11× “1(b) and 42 Pa.C.S. § 5943] because they are ministers of the gospel of a regularly established church, who are neither self-ordained, nor members of religious organizations in which members other than the leader thereof are deemed clergymen or ministers.”
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