Yes. According to the law outlined below, members of clergy are among those professionals who are required by law to report this to authorities. The mandatory reporting law includes Texas statute 21.11 "Indecency with a child" which is which essentially, is Texas's statutory rape law. § Click here for PDF document 261.101. PERSONS REQUIRED TO REPORT; TIME TO REPORT. (a) A person having cause to believe that a child's physical or mental health or welfare has been adversely affected by abuse or neglect by any person shall immediately make a report as provided by this subchapter. (b) If a professional has cause to believe that a child has been abused or neglected or may be abused or neglected, or that a child is a victim of an offense under Section 21.11, Penal Code, and the professional has cause to believe that the child has been abused as defined by Section 261.001 or 261.401, the professional shall make a report not later than the 48th hour after the hour the professional first suspects that the child has been or may be abused or neglected or is a victim of an offense under Section 21.11, Penal Code. A professional may not delegate to or rely on another person to make the report. In this subsection, "professional" means an individual who is licensed or certified by the state or who is an employee of a facility licensed, certified, or operated by the state and who, in the normal course of official duties or duties for which a license or certification is required, has direct contact with children. The term includes teachers, nurses, doctors, day-care employees, employees of a clinic or health care facility that provides reproductive services, juvenile probation officers, and juvenile detention or correctional officers. (c) The requirement to report under this section applies without exception to an individual whose personal communications may otherwise be privileged, including an attorney, a member of the clergy, a medical practitioner, a social worker, a mental health professional, and an employee of a clinic or health care facility that provides reproductive services. (d) Unless waived in writing by the person making the report, the identity of an individual making a report under this chapter is confidential and may be disclosed only: (1) as provided by Section 261.201; or (2) to a law enforcement officer for the purposes of conducting a criminal investigation of the report.

If he is named as the biological father of her child at birth, he will be obligated legally to financially support his child and he will have certain parental rights as the childs father. If he contests the paternity of this child, a court ordered DNA test will follow to make a final determination. If he is arrested for violation of a Texas state law, it does not effect his legal obilgation to support his child financially. It could effect his "ability" to support his child if he is in jail. In the state of Texas, it is a violation of state law for a 21 year old to have sexual intercourse with a 16 year old. If the parent does not report this, any professional in the medical field or in education who has reasonable suspicion that a state law has been violated will by law, have to report this to authorities, Family Services, or the District Attorney according to the procedures established in the state of Texas.

There is no law to prevent a 19 year old from dating a a 16 year old as long as no sexual contact takes place. Texas state law says the age of consent for sexual contact is 17. Parental consent, written or stated, will not over-ride state law in Texas.

Yes, it is legal for the step-dad to file a complaint with police. If any state laws have been violated, it would be up to the prosecuting attorney to determine if charges will be filed. If it's determined through an investigation that there was no sexual contact, no charges would be filed. If it's determined that sexual contact did take place with a minor under the age of 17 and there is more than 3 years (36 months) between the two of you in age, you could be found in violation of 21.11. § 21.11. INDECENCY WITH A CHILD. (a) A person commits an offense if, with a child younger than 17 years and not the person's spouse, whether the child is of the same or opposite sex, the person: (1) engages in sexual contact with the child or causes the child to engage in sexual contact; or (2) with intent to arouse or gratify the sexual desire of any person: (A) exposes the person's anus or any part of the person's genitals, knowing the child is present; or (B) causes the child to expose the child's anus or any part of the child's genitals. (b) It is an affirmative defense to prosecution under this section that the actor: (1) was not more than three years older than the victim and of the opposite sex; (2) did not use duress, force, or a threat against the victim at the time of the offense; and (3) at the time of the offense: (A) was not required under Chapter 62, Code of Criminal Procedure, to register for life as a sex offender; or (B) was not a person who under Chapter 62 had a reportable conviction or adjudication for an offense under this section. (c) In this section, "sexual contact" means the following acts, if committed with the intent to arouse or gratify the sexual desire of any person: (1) any touching by a person, including touching through clothing, of the anus, breast, or any part of the genitals of a child; or (2) any touching of any part of the body of a child, including touching through clothing, with the anus, breast, or any part of the genitals of a person. (d) An offense under Subsection (a)(1) is a felony of the second degree and an offense under Subsection (a)(2) is a felony of the third degree.

In the state of Texas, 17 years of age is the age at which you are legally capable of consenting to sexual contact. There is no law to prevent you from "dating" as long as, the parents of the minor do not forbid the relationship and there is no sexual contact involved. Sexual contact is defined within the law below in BOLD

Sec. 21.11. INDECENCY WITH A CHILD.

Yes. In the state of Texas, a 15 year old is not legally capable of consenting to sexual contact.

Yes. If a state law has been violated, the parents do not have a say as to whether the state will prosecute the case. The state prosecutor evaluates the case and either drops it or files charges based on evidence. The parents are not involved in that decision making process. Generally, where there is a pregnancy involving an underage mother, it can be reported to the prosecutors office by teachers, counselors, medical staff, or any professional who legally must file mandetory reports when they have knowlege of sexual offense violations against minors or children. The parents may not have anything to do with any criminal action taken.

If he is 16 years of age, he is not at the legal age of consent which would put you at risk of a violation.

Our focus is primarily on the laws in the United States. For information on an international scale, here's a link to the "Worldwide Age of consent" page at www.avert.org.

Dating is not illegal; in some situations parental consent is required. The legal age of consent to have sexual intercourse in Texas is 17. § 21.11. INDECENCY WITH A CHILD. (a) A person commits an offense if, with a child younger than 17 years and not the person's spouse, whether the child is of the same or opposite sex, the person: (1) engages in sexual contact with the child or causes the child to engage in sexual contact; or (2) with intent to arouse or gratify the sexual desire of any person: A 24 year old would not be found in violation of 21.11 if he were involved in a sexual relationship with a 17 year old. If a 24 year old is involved sexually with an individual under the age of 17, this would be a violation of the law and he could be charged and convicted. This crime may be prosecuted up to 10 years after the 18th birthday of the victim.