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By Elizabeth Neff - The Salt Lake Tribune

"Churches have no obligation to warn followers about known sexual predators in their congregations, the Utah Court of Appeals ruled Thursday.

"And churches cannot be sued for failing to report suspected child abuse to authorities, as required by state law, the court said.

"The sweeping ruling, issued in a lawsuit against The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, stands to curb suits filed against the church with such allegations.

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"A church spokesman said the church "strongly disputes" the suit's allegations and is "gratified that the Court of Appeals decided the church cannot be held responsible as an institution when an individual member commits private criminal conduct."

"The church also says it "unequivocally condemns child abuse in any form, and our hearts go out to victims of abuse and their families."

"Writing for the appeals court Thursday, Judge Pamela T. Greenwood said the church had no duty to warn the mother and son because it had no "special relationship them, and the alleged abuse did not occur while the victims were at church events."

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