US EditionWashington state agrees not to require clergy to report child abuse disclosed in confession
- This week, the State of Washington reached an agreement not to require Catholic priests to report information learned in the Sacrament of Confession, making permanent an injunction blocking SB 5375 enforcement.
- Catholic leaders and the U.S. Department of Justice sued in May over SB 5375, which required clergy to report child abuse regardless of how it was learned, and Judge David Estudillo issued an injunction on July 18.
- Had SB 5375 taken effect, priests faced a $5,000 fine and up to 364 days in jail, while its statutory language sought to deny clergy privileged communication.
- Plaintiffs and legal advocates described the outcome as a victory, with Mark Rienzi and the Becket Fund praising the agreement while Attorney General Nick Brown said it respects the court’s decision and preserves child-protection elements.
- Historically, Washington's statute and most states have carved out confession exemptions; plaintiffs argued the law violated the First Amendment free exercise clause and noted breaking the seal leads to excommunication in the Catholic Church.
74 Articles
74 Articles
Washington Agrees Not to Compel Catholic Priests to Report Abuse Confessions
Washington state has reached an agreement to stop forcing Catholic priests to report confessions of abuse, ending a legal dispute over a controversial new law. The state officials have accepted a permanent injunction that prevents the enforcement of the law against “the Catholic Sacrament of Confession and/or any other privileged communication.”
Agreement reached in Washington allows priests to keep confession secret
WASHINGTON STATE – An agreement has been reached between Catholic priests and the Department of Justice (DOJ) to allow priests to maintain the confidentiality of confessions. This resolves a lawsuit against the state of Washington regarding a law that would have required religious leaders to act as mandatory reporters, potentially breaking the seal of confession.
Dem State Backs Down on Forcing Priests to Violate Seal of Confession.
PULSE POINTSWHAT HAPPENED: Washington State has settled a legal case that will end attempts to force Catholic priests to violate the seal of the sacrament of confession.WHO WAS INVOLVED: Washington State, the Roman Catholic Church, the Archdiocese of Seattle, and The Washington State Catholic Conference.WHEN & WHERE: The Washington State Catholic Conference announced the settlement on October 10.KEY QUOTE: “We’re grateful Washington ultimately r…
washingtonstatestandard.com
Washington will not require priests to report child abuse disclosed in confession
Gov. Bob Ferguson, at podium, goes to shake hands with state Sen. Noel Frame, D-Seattle, at the signing of a bill to make clergy mandatory reporters of child abuse and neglect, on May 2, 2025 in Olympia. Standing between them is Mary Dispenza, a founding member of the Catholic Accountability Project. (Photo by Jerry Cornfield/Washington State Standard)Washington has abandoned its effort to force Catholic priests and other religious leaders to di…
Catholic defiance of Democrat law pays off, sparing priests from the choice of jail or excommunication
Bob Ferguson, the Democrat governor of Washington state, signed a bill in May that would have compelled Catholic priests to break the seal of confession or face up to 364 days in jail and a $5,000 fine.Catholic bishops in the Evergreen State fought back — and came out victorious on Friday with the reinforcement of the Trump Justice Department.BackgroundSenate Bill 5375, as ratified by the self-identifying Catholic governor and scores of other De…
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