Orthodox Churches Join Catholic Bishops in Suing Washington State Over Confession Law

Orthodox churches join Catholic bishops in suing Washington state over confession law

Credit: Quisquilia/Shutterstock CNA Staff, Jun 17, 2025 / 11:16 am (CNA). A group of Orthodox churches has joined the Catholic bishops of Washington state in suing the government over its requirement that clergy either violate the seal of confe... [...]

Orthodox churches join Catholic bishops in suing over confession law

Credit: Quisquilia/Shutterstock CNA Staff, Jun 17, 2025 / 11:16 am (CNA). A group of Orthodox churches has joined the Catholic bishops of Washington state in suing the government over its requirement that clergy either violate the seal of confession or face jail time.The Orthodox Church in America, the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, and numerous other Orthodox jurisdictions on Monday sued dozens of public officials i…

Orthodox Churches Join Catholic Bishops in Suing Washington State Over Confession Law

Igreca2n The lawsuit, filed in federal district court, claims the state’s law violates the First and 14th Amendments to the United States Constitution. Priests who fail to report abuse learned in confession could face up to 364 days in jail and a $5,000 fine.

Orthodox churches join Catholics in suing Washington over confession reporting requirements

Monday, several Orthodox churches filed a federal lawsuit to sue Washington for religious discrimination over the state’s recent passage of a law mandating clergy to report child abuse and neglect, including if discovered within the confessional.

More churches file lawsuit against Gov. Ferguson over new mandatory child abuse reporting law

Spokane WA – New court filings show several Orthodox churches and a priest are suing the state of Washington and Governor Bob Ferguson over a newly implemented law that requires clergy to report suspected child abuse. The plaintiffs include Orthodox Church in America, Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, Romanian Orthodox Metropolia of the Americas, Western American Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia,