What is NOT an exception to the priest-penitent privilege?

The principle of priest-penitent privilege is designed to protect the confidentiality of communications made within a spiritual context. This privilege typically applies to confessions or disclosures made to religious figures by individuals seeking spiritual guidance or absolution.

The correct choice identifies that "All communications must be kept confidential" is not an exception to the priest-penitent privilege. Rather, the privilege itself asserts that these communications are confidential in nature. This ensures that individuals can freely discuss their issues without fear of legal repercussions, thereby promoting openness and trust in spiritual settings.

On the other hand, the other options reflect real-world scenarios where exceptions to this privilege may arise. For instance, communications regarding child abuse or made after the commission of a crime may not be protected by this privilege because they involve mandatory reporting laws aimed at protecting vulnerable individuals and upholding public safety. Communications related to divorce might also be susceptible to legal scrutiny, as they often involve matters of civil law rather than strictly spiritual ones. Thus, these exceptions highlight the limitations of priest-penitent privilege, while the notion that all communications must be kept confidential is instead a foundational aspect of the privilege itself.