The so-called "right to privacy" is a hot-button issue in many modern societies, and within that discussion, the question of a *child's* right to privacy is often raised. Christians take positions in the debate, and at least sometimes point to the Bible to make their case. Evangelical author Edward T. Welch writes: > Scripture seems to lean in the direction of rejecting the concept of privacy in the parent-child relationship. ([*Addictions*](https://books.google.com/books?id=racGAAAACAAJ) , 95) Welch doesn't provide any explicit biblical support for this claim, so my question is: **what is the biblical basis against the idea of a child's right to privacy in relation to their parents?** Here I am talking about children who are legal minors living with their parents, and I'm specifically asking about their privacy within the parent-child relationship. The question of a child's privacy within the church or society at large is a separate issue. I'm also focusing on the question of a *right* to privacy, not whether it is biblical for parents to *give* their child privacy in certain situations.

This question is mainly about the idea of contact tracing, but in a broader sense, in the Natural Law, as interpreted by the Catholic Church, her doctors, popes, noted philosophers, well-meaning dons, radio personalities, etc... do individuals have a right to privacy and if so, what sort of a right is that? Is it merely a negative right, as in, other people have a duty not to pry into your details or do people have a positive right to keep things to themselves?

HIPAA, the United States Health Care Privacy Law has been in effect for nearly two decades. It's the law that makes people all nervous about talking about other people's well being with their doctors and I've got a feeling it cuts in to Catholic Social teaching, but I can't say exactly why. According to the Catholic social teaching, the principle of subsidiarity laws are best crafted at the an appropriate level > Excessive intervention by the state can threaten personal freedom and initiative. The teaching of the Church has elaborated the principle of subsidiarity, according to which "a community of a higher order should not interfere in the internal life of a community of a lower order, depriving the latter of its functions, but rather should support it in case of need and help to co- ordinate its activity with the activities of the rest of society, always with a view to the common good." > > CCC 1883 I got off on a bit of a tangent today at my Religious Ed. class telling the 13 and 14 year olds that HIPAA was in direct violation of Catholic Social teaching because of the part that [potentially removes their parents](http://www.hhs.gov/hipaafaq/personal/227.html) from the loop of their healthcare decisions. So, my question is, should a family ever be trumped by a higher order when it comes to medicine?