Summary of changes
Rule 503 — Communications to clergy
The text as it stood in the last Manual for Courts-Martial edition beside the current text, provision by provision, with every recorded amendment and the authority behind it — the whole Rule in one view.
0 amended
0 added
0 removed
6 unchanged
No changes recorded for this Rule —
its text is the same as the last Manual for Courts-Martial edition.
Showing every provision.
Provisions
503(a)
unchanged
Original text
General Rule.
A person has a privilege to refuse to disclose and to prevent another from disclosing a confidential communication by the person to a clergy member or to a clergy member's assistant, if such communication is made either as a formal act of religion or as a matter of conscience.
Current text
General Rule.
A person has a privilege to refuse to disclose and to prevent another from disclosing a confidential communication by the person to a clergy member or to a clergy member's assistant, if such communication is made either as a formal act of religion or as a matter of conscience.
503(b)
unchanged
Original text
Definitions.
As used in this rule:
Current text
Definitions.
As used in this rule:
503(b)(1)
unchanged
Original text
"Clergy member" means a minister, priest, rabbi, imam, chaplain, or other similar functionary of a religious organization, or an individual reasonably believed to be so by the person consulting the clergy member.
Current text
"Clergy member" means a minister, priest, rabbi, imam, chaplain, or other similar functionary of a religious organization, or an individual reasonably believed to be so by the person consulting the clergy member.
503(b)(2)
unchanged
Original text
"Clergy member's assistant" means a person employed or assigned to assist a clergy member in the clergy member's capacity as a spiritual advisor.
Current text
"Clergy member's assistant" means a person employed or assigned to assist a clergy member in the clergy member's capacity as a spiritual advisor.
503(b)(3)
unchanged
Original text
A communication is "confidential" if made to a clergy member in the clergy member's capacity as a spiritual advisor or to a clergy member's assistant in the assistant's official capacity and is not intended to be disclosed to third persons other than those to whom disclosure is in furtherance of the purpose of the communication or to those reasonably necessary for the transmission of the communication.
Current text
A communication is "confidential" if made to a clergy member in the clergy member's capacity as a spiritual advisor or to a clergy member's assistant in the assistant's official capacity and is not intended to be disclosed to third persons other than those to whom disclosure is in furtherance of the purpose of the communication or to those reasonably necessary for the transmission of the communication.
503(c)
unchanged
Original text
Who May Claim the Privilege.
The privilege may be claimed by the person, guardian, or conservator, or by a personal representative if the person is deceased. The clergy member or clergy member's assistant who received the communication may claim the privilege on behalf of the person. The authority of the clergy member or clergy member's assistant to do so is presumed in the absence of evidence to the contrary.
Current text
Who May Claim the Privilege.
The privilege may be claimed by the person, guardian, or conservator, or by a personal representative if the person is deceased. The clergy member or clergy member's assistant who received the communication may claim the privilege on behalf of the person. The authority of the clergy member or clergy member's assistant to do so is presumed in the absence of evidence to the contrary.
“Original text” is the state captured the first time a provision was edited under change tracking — i.e. the text as published in the last Manual for Courts-Martial edition. Provisions edited without being “marked as changed” (typos, formatting) are not recorded here; see the recent revisions feed and the site-wide changes log.