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That's terrible! My husband is a youth pastor and said he is considered a mandated reporter. I would think it's the same for all pastors. This is so sad

So terrible; may their little souls rest in heaven

I didn't watch the video and the article didn't say that others knew of a history... I guess I also don't want to judge since I don't have all the facts, but I'm sure no one feels good if they could have helped prevent a tragedy Hindsight sucks in this case.

That is awful. This is why you should never turn a blind eye to something like this. They were probably in denial that it would go this far.

At our church they state outright that if during a meeting with a pastor you tell them anything regarding someone being in danger or abused, they are obligated to go to the police.

This makes me think of Andrea Yates. If her husband turns out to be anything like Andrea Yates' husband, then all I can say is that husbands who ignore mental health issues, PPD and similar issues in their partners where the partners have clearly expressed a desire to harm their children and who do NOTHING but hope to “minister to them personally” (from the linked article) and continue to press those women to spend 24/7 at home with said children and press them to continue to have more children without receiving qualified, real medical help really, really, REALLY piss me off; and I think they should be held legally liable and charged criminally alongside the mother.

I know some clergy have exemption from some mandated reporting statutes and also have privileged communication allowance; which I personally, morally disagree with in any case of abuse of any nature.

I hope the second child recovers; though I don't know how you ever emotionally recover from having your mother try to murder you, especially when you're old enough to remember everything that happened.

@Pepper: @Mrs. Jump Rope: oh God. My mom didn't tell me about this, but this is horrifying

it's an awful, awful situation but I don't know that the pastor does have an obligation to report anything said in confession. Unless he's a professional counselor, social worker, teacher, or medical professional he probably doesn't fall under the category of mandated reported. People who are not mandated reporters can still make reports, but are legally considered permissive reporters. At least in PA, which is where I live. Also, if she told him she had thoughts of harming her children but no intent, CPS might not have done anything anyway. The pastor could have contacted police if he felt she was a threat to her children, but again...she could deny it and the police would have to let her go. I've seen people lie through their teeth to get out of being hospitalized even though they clearly have homicidal/suicidal thoughts and a plan. It's a heartbreaking story but sometimes there's no clear way to lay blame with one particular person.

The mom is responsible. She did it. She should have asked for help or stepped away from the situation before it got to this point. Yeah, it's hard to admit you need help...I'm pretty sure it's harder to murder your own children. I don't want to sound cold hearted or unsympathetic to her situation but I don't think the blame belongs to anyone else at the end of the day. Any moment between filling up the tub and sitting on her son could have been a sign for her to remove herself from the situation, call for help.