Records of Religious Organizations Concerning Personal or Family History: Which option correctly describes this category?

• A. A government civil registry containing a statement of personal history.
• B. A statement of birth, legitimacy, ancestry, marriage, divorce, death, or similar facts of personal history contained in a regularly kept record of a religious organization.
• C. A statement about family history in a church bulletin.
• D. A statement about religious doctrine.

Answer: (B)

Records kept by a religious organization about personal or family history are treated as an exception to the hearsay rule when they are contained in a record that the organization regularly maintains. The essential idea is that life events like birth, legitimacy, ancestry, marriage, divorce, and death recorded by a religious body, in its normal course of activities, are considered trustworthy enough to be admitted for their truth. The description here—personal history facts found in a regularly kept record of a religious organization—fits that exact provision.

The other options fall short because they describe documents that aren’t regular religious records about personal history (a civil registry), casual notices (a church bulletin), or things outside this category (religious doctrine).