US EditionCatholic Bishops Sue Washington over Law Forcing Priests to Break Confessional Seal in Child Abuse Cases
- Washington state's Catholic bishops filed a federal lawsuit on May 29, 2025, in Tacoma challenging a new law requiring priests to report suspected child abuse even if learned during confession.
- The lawsuit arose after Governor Bob Ferguson signed Senate Bill 5375 on May 2, which expands mandatory reporting to clergy without exception for the confessional seal, unlike most other states.
- Represented by the Becket religious liberty firm, the bishops argue the law forces priests to violate nearly 2,000 years of Church teaching or face criminal penalties including jail and fines.
- Mark Rienzi called the law “about jailing priests for following the Church’s ancient faith practices” and the lawsuit claims the law constitutes religious discrimination violating the First Amendment.
- The lawsuit seeks to block the law’s implementation, arguing it unlawfully burdens religious freedom and risks undermining the trust essential to the sacrament of confession.
40 Articles
40 Articles
New WA law is ‘brazen’ discrimination, Catholic leaders say in lawsuit
Washington’s Catholic leaders sued state leaders and county prosecutors Thursday, alleging that a controversial new law requiring priests to break the confessional seal to report suspected child abuse is “a brazen act of religious discrimination.”
Bishops sue to overturn new WA law requiring clergy to report child abuse
Washington’s leading Catholic bishops filed a lawsuit Thursday contending the new state law requiring religious leaders to report child abuse or neglect, even when it is disclosed in confession, is unconstitutional and should be invalidated.
Washington bishops sue over new law violating seal of confession
Washington state’s Catholic bishops sued Democratic Gov. Bob Ferguson and dozens of county prosecutors May 29 over a new law, set to take effect in late… The post Washington bishops sue over new law violating seal of confession appeared first on CatholicVote org.
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