The next step for child advocates is continuing to find ways to keep children safe. That includes expanding the definition of mandatory reporters, making sure as many people as possible are required by law to report allegations of abuse.

The Catholic Church says it views itself as a place of healing, but finding a balance can be tricky, especially when talking about the sacrament of confession.

A bill in the legislature would require clergy to report what they hear, including during confession.

"The only way that I can make that understood is there is what we call the forum of conscience, which is private, known only to God and the person," says Albany Bishop Ed Scharfenberger.

That means the church views confession as a conversation between a person and God, with a priest representing the voice of God.

"A priest that reveals anything about what was said to him during confession is automatically excommunicated. He cannot serve as a priest," says Scharfenberger.

The bishop says the only way a priest can reveal what is said to him is if the person confessing says it’s OK. But what happens if the person doesn’t consent to the information being shared?

Although some are skeptical, Scharfenberger says a priest is supposed to tell someone to turn themselves into law enforcement.

"There are some safeguards within the actual practice that I think would make it highly unlikely that somebody would confess something like that and not also have to pay the consequences legally and in civil law," says Scharfenberger.

But not everyone is convinced that will work or is good enough. Advocates say they're making the bill a priority.