# D.C. Code § 14-309: Clergy

> District of Columbia · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T14_C3_S14-309

## Section

- **Citation:** D.C. Code § 14-309
- **Heading:** Clergy
- **Jurisdiction:** District of Columbia
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** DC Code / Title 14 / Chapter 3 / § 14-309

## Text

A priest, clergyman, rabbi, or other duly licensed, ordained, or consecrated minister of a religion authorized to perform a marriage ceremony in the District of Columbia or duly accredited practitioner of Christian Science may not be examined in any civil or criminal proceedings in the Federal courts in the District of Columbia and District of Columbia courts with respect to any —
(1) confession, or communication, made to him, in his professional capacity in the course of discipline enjoined by the church or other religious body to which he belongs, without the consent of the person making the confession or communication; or
(2) communication made to him, in his professional capacity in the course of giving religious or spiritual advice, without the consent of the person seeking the advice; or
(3) (A) communication made to him, in his professional capacity, by either spouse or domestic partner, in connection with an effort to reconcile estranged spouses or domestic partners, without the consent of the spouse or domestic partner making the communication.
(B) for the purposes of this paragraph, the term “domestic partner” shall have the same meaning as provided in § 32-701(3) .

## Nearby sections

- [D.C. Code § 14-301 § 14-301. Parties and other interested persons generally.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T14_C3_S14-301.md)
- [D.C. Code § 14-302 § 14-302. Testimony against deceased or incapable person.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T14_C3_S14-302.md)
- [D.C. Code § 14-303 § 14-303. Testimony of deceased or incapable person.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T14_C3_S14-303.md)
- [D.C. Code § 14-304 § 14-304. Death or incapacity of partner or other interested person.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T14_C3_S14-304.md)
- [D.C. Code § 14-305 § 14-305. Competency of witnesses; impeachment by evidence of conviction of crime.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T14_C3_S14-305.md)
- [D.C. Code § 14-306 § 14-306. Spouse or domestic partner.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T14_C3_S14-306.md)
- [D.C. Code § 14-307 § 14-307. Confidential information.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T14_C3_S14-307.md)
- [D.C. Code § 14-308 § 14-308. Assessment officials as expert witnesses in condemnation proceedings.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T14_C3_S14-308.md)
- [D.C. Code § 14-309 § 14-309. Clergy.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T14_C3_S14-309.md)
- [D.C. Code § 14-310 § 14-310. Domestic violence counselors.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T14_C3_S14-310.md)
- [D.C. Code § 14-311 § 14-311. Human trafficking counselors.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T14_C3_S14-311.md)
- [D.C. Code § 14-312 § 14-312. Sexual assault counselors.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T14_C3_S14-312.md)
- [D.C. Code § 14-313 § 14-313. Hospital-based violence intervention programs.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T14_C3_S14-313.md)
- [D.C. Code § 14-314 § 14-314. Crime victim counselors.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T14_C3_S14-314.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T14_C3_S14-309. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.