Our courts routinely violate parent-child bonds by compelling testimony of one against the other. There are no evidentiary privileges for parent and child or for siblings.

Americans can safely confess or disclose to medical physicians, attorneys, clergymen, counselors and spouses--but not to their parents or children.

Other countries recognize the legal sanctity of the most sacred of relationships, but not 47 of the 50 United States and its federal government.

Communications between parent and child are greatly inhibited when confidences can't be shared because of fear of future legal consequences.

What happens to the traditional elements of trust and protection? If states are going to hold parents increasingly responsible for the criminal acts of their children, compelled testimony will only erode the bonds between parent and child.

Will "don't ask, don't tell" replace "you can tell me anything" as family mottos? (23 JANUARY 2000).