(1) For the purposes of this section:
(a) A “member of the clergy” is a priest, rabbi, practitioner of Christian Science, or minister of any religious organization or denomination usually referred to as a church, or an individual reasonably believed so to be by the person consulting him or her.
(b) A communication between a member of the clergy and a person is “confidential” if made privately for the purpose of seeking spiritual counsel and advice from the member of the clergy in the usual course of his or her practice or discipline and not intended for further disclosure except to other persons present in furtherance of the communication.
(2) A person has a privilege to refuse to disclose, and to prevent another from disclosing, a confidential communication by the person to a member of the clergy in his or her capacity as spiritual adviser.
(3) The privilege may be claimed by:
(a) The person.
(b) The guardian or conservator of a person.
(c) The personal representative of a deceased person.
(d) The member of the clergy, on behalf of the person. The member of the clergy’s authority to do so is presumed in the absence of evidence to the contrary.
History.—s. 1, ch. 76-237; s. 1, ch. 77-77; s. 1, ch. 77-174; ss. 11, 22, ch. 78-361; ss. 1, 2, ch. 78-379; s. 477, ch. 95-147.
Structure Florida Statutes
90.103 - Scope; Applicability.
90.105 - Preliminary Questions.
90.106 - Summing Up and Comment by Judge.
90.107 - Limited Admissibility.
90.108 - Introduction of Related Writings or Recorded Statements.
90.201 - Matters Which Must Be Judicially Noticed.
90.202 - Matters Which May Be Judicially Noticed.
90.203 - Compulsory Judicial Notice Upon Request.
90.204 - Determination of Propriety of Judicial Notice and Nature of Matter Noticed.
90.205 - Denial of a Request for Judicial Notice.
90.206 - Instructing Jury on Judicial Notice.
90.207 - Judicial Notice by Trial Court in Subsequent Proceedings.
90.301 - Presumption Defined; Inferences.
90.302 - Classification of Rebuttable Presumptions.
90.303 - Presumption Affecting the Burden of Producing Evidence Defined.
90.304 - Presumption Affecting the Burden of Proof Defined.
90.401 - Definition of Relevant Evidence.
90.402 - Admissibility of Relevant Evidence.
90.4025 - Admissibility of Paternity Determination in Certain Criminal Prosecutions.
90.4026 - Statements Expressing Sympathy; Admissibility; Definitions.
90.403 - Exclusion on Grounds of Prejudice or Confusion.
90.404 - Character Evidence; When Admissible.
90.405 - Methods of Proving Character.
90.407 - Subsequent Remedial Measures.
90.408 - Compromise and Offers to Compromise.
90.409 - Payment of Medical and Similar Expenses.
90.410 - Offer to Plead Guilty; Nolo Contendere; Withdrawn Pleas of Guilty.
90.501 - Privileges Recognized Only as Provided.
90.5015 - Journalist’s Privilege.
90.502 - Lawyer-Client Privilege.
90.5021 - Fiduciary Lawyer-Client Privilege.
90.503 - Psychotherapist-Patient Privilege.
90.5035 - Sexual Assault Counselor-Victim Privilege.
90.5036 - Domestic Violence Advocate-Victim Privilege.
90.5037 - Human Trafficking Victim Advocate-Victim Privilege.
90.504 - Husband-Wife Privilege.
90.505 - Privilege With Respect to Communications to Clergy.
90.5055 - Accountant-Client Privilege.
90.506 - Privilege With Respect to Trade Secrets.
90.507 - Waiver of Privilege by Voluntary Disclosure.
90.508 - Privileged Matter Disclosed Under Compulsion or Without Opportunity to Claim Privilege.
90.509 - Application of Privileged Communication.
90.510 - Privileged Communication Necessary to Adverse Party.
90.601 - General Rule of Competency.
90.603 - Disqualification of Witness.
90.604 - Lack of Personal Knowledge.
90.605 - Oath or Affirmation of Witness.
90.606 - Interpreters and Translators.
90.6063 - Interpreter Services for Deaf Persons.
90.607 - Competency of Certain Persons as Witnesses.
90.609 - Character of Witness as Impeachment.
90.610 - Conviction of Certain Crimes as Impeachment.
90.611 - Religious Beliefs or Opinions.
90.612 - Mode and Order of Interrogation and Presentation.
90.613 - Refreshing the Memory of a Witness.
90.614 - Prior Statements of Witnesses.
90.615 - Calling Witnesses by the Court.
90.616 - Exclusion of Witnesses.
90.701 - Opinion Testimony of Lay Witnesses.
90.702 - Testimony by Experts.
90.703 - Opinion on Ultimate Issue.
90.704 - Basis of Opinion Testimony by Experts.
90.705 - Disclosure of Facts or Data Underlying Expert Opinion.
90.706 - Authoritativeness of Literature for Use in Cross-Examination.
90.801 - Hearsay; Definitions; Exceptions.
90.803 - Hearsay Exceptions; Availability of Declarant Immaterial.
90.804 - Hearsay Exceptions; Declarant Unavailable.
90.805 - Hearsay Within Hearsay.
90.806 - Attacking and Supporting Credibility of Declarant.
90.901 - Requirement of Authentication or Identification.
90.903 - Testimony of Subscribing Witness Unnecessary.
90.952 - Requirement of Originals.
90.953 - Admissibility of Duplicates.
90.954 - Admissibility of Other Evidence of Contents.