In Re Catholic Charitable Bureau of the Archdiocese of Boston, Inc.

At issue is whether a petition to dispense with a mother’s 1 consent to adoption, see G. L. c. 210, § 3 (b), 2 is a “child custody case” permitting the disclosure of the mother’s communications to psychotherapists. SeeG. L. c. 233, § 20B 3 (e). 4 A Probate Court judge concluded that the petition to dispense with the mother’s consent was a “child custody case” and permitted two psychiatrists who treated the mother to testify to the mother’s statements to them. The mother appealed, and we transferred the case to this court on our own motion. We reverse.

The mother, a graduate of Simmons College…