Court Says Counseling By Nun Is Not Privileged

According to the Parsippany, NJ Daily Record, and the Newark Star-Record,  a New Jersey state judge yesterday ruled that a nun who counseled a murder suspect can be called to testify against the suspect at trial. Sister Catherine Morrisett is a nun who is trained in therapy, but she is not a licensed psychologist. While she has a doctorate in ministry, she is not authorized by the Church to hear confessions or offer the sacrament of absolution. Therefore none of the traditional privileges against testifying apply to her.