Tex. R. Evid. 505

Privilege For Communications to a Clergy Member

sha256 4c9cebf2202ef689a5b1cd8bc33c3ceb… · retrieved 7/15/2026, 8:29:35 PM · Supreme Court of Texas official rules PDF — txcourts.gov, verbatim · verified 8/5/2026 by TXEV-1 July reconcile (artifact-proven, dual-sourced)

Rule 505. Privilege For Communications to a Clergy Member
(a) Definitions. In this rule:
(1) A “clergy member” is a minister, priest, rabbi, accredited Christian Science
Practitioner, or other similar functionary of a religious organization or someone
whom a communicant reasonably believes is a clergy member.
(2) A “communicant” is a person who consults a clergy member in the clergy member’s
professional capacity as a spiritual adviser.
(3) A communication is “confidential” if made privately and not intended for further
disclosure except to other persons present to further the purpose of the
communication.
(b) General Rule. A communicant has a privilege to refuse to disclose and to prevent any other
person from disclosing a confidential communication by the communicant to a clergy
member in the clergy member’s professional capacity as spiritual adviser.
(c) Who May Claim. The privilege may be claimed by:
(1) the communicant;
(2) the communicant’s guardian or conservator; or
(3) a deceased communicant’s personal representative.
The clergy member to whom the communication was made may claim the privilege on the
communicant’s behalf—and is presumed to have authority to do so.

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