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Image credit: Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Seattle. By Joe Mabel, courtesy of Wikipedia.
The Catholic Church is threatening excommunication for priests in Washington state who comply with a new law requiring clergy to report child abuse disclosed during confession. The law, which takes effect July 27, eliminates the clergy-penitent privilege for confessional communications and mandates reporting of suspected child abuse, even when revealed during the sacrament of reconciliation, Newsweek reported.
The Archdiocese of Seattle and other church leaders argue that the law crosses a constitutional boundary, infringing on religious freedom and violating church doctrine. Supporters of the legislation contend that it is an essential safeguard for children and a necessary check on institutional silence around abuse.
The law has ignited national debate over religious liberty and child protection, joining Washington with a small number of states that no longer exempt confessional disclosures from mandatory reporting laws. Legal experts say the measure could have ripple effects across the country as civil rights groups, religious institutions, and lawmakers weigh in.
According to the Archdiocese of Seattle, priests who break the seal of confession face automatic excommunication. Under canon law, this sanction is reserved to the Apostolic See. “Catholic clergy may not violate the seal of confession—or they will be excommunicated from the Church,” the Archdiocese stated.
The U.S. Department of Justice has launched a review to determine whether the law violates First Amendment protections of religious practice. The DOJ’s Civil Rights Division is expected to issue findings that could impact the law’s implementation or trigger legal challenges.The Vatican is also in transition following the death of Pope Francis on April 21. Cardinals are set to begin voting for the next pope, with front-runners including Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle.
Reaction to the new Washington law has been swift and polarized. A plaintiff’s attorney criticized the measure as unconstitutional, stating, “SB 5375 demands that Catholic Priests violate their deeply held faith in order to obey the law, a violation of the Constitution and a breach of the free exercise of religion.”
Governor Bob Ferguson defended the law, saying, “We look forward to protecting Washington kids from sexual abuse in the face of this ‘investigation’ from the Trump administration.”
Professor Michele Dillon of the University of New Hampshire, an expert on Catholicism, told Newsweek, “This is highly controversial because it directly challenges a core element of the Catholic faith… The Church has made significant strides in recent years to safeguard children from sex abuse, and so it’s unfortunate that the controversy stoked by the Washington State law… may erroneously convey… that the Church is opposing the requirement simply to evade dealing with the issue of sex abuse.”
The Archdiocese of Seattle reiterated its position in a statement: “All Catholics must know and be assured that their confessions remain sacred, secure, confidential and protected by the law of the Church.” Archbishop Paul Etienne added, “Priests cannot comply with this law if the knowledge of abuse is obtained during the Sacrament of Reconciliation.”
Unless halted by a court or legislative intervention, the law will go into effect on July 27. Catholic leadership in Washington has indicated that clergy are prepared to face legal consequences rather than compromise church doctrine, setting up a potential clash over constitutional rights and public safety responsibilities.
Are You A Survivor Of Sexual Abuse At The Hands of the Catholic Church? You May Be Entitled To Compensation.
To learn more about your legal rights, institutional accountability, and how to take action, visit SurvivorsRights.com’s Catholic Church Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Guide.
