US EditionGov. Ferguson signs law to make clergy members mandatory reporters
- On May 2, 2025, Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson signed Senate Bill 5375 requiring clergy to report child abuse, including information from confession.
- The bill emerged after years of debate and builds on failed attempts to close a reporting loophole excluding clergy from mandatory child abuse reporting.
- Supporters argue the law protects children and enforces mandatory reporting without exceptions for clergy-penitent privilege, while religious leaders warn it conflicts with church law about confession secrecy.
- Bishop Thomas Daly stated priests will uphold the seal of confession even if it means going to jail, while Gov. Ferguson emphasized protecting children as the law's priority.
- The law, effective July 1, 2026, may place Catholic priests in legal conflict due to mandatory reporting requirements that override sacramental confidentiality.
27 Articles
27 Articles
The Victoria Advocate
U.S. Justice Dept. to investigate new WA law requiring clergy to report child abuse
(The Center Square) – Just three days after Gov. Bob Ferguson signed into law a bill requiring religious leaders in Washington state to report child abuse or neglect – even when it’s disclosed in confession – the U.S. Justice Department…
Washington state demands priests break the seal of confession
Washington state Democrats are singling out religious leaders in a law they claim is upholding the separation between church and state. In reality, it is the imposition of the state on the church, singling out religion as the focus of the law. The new law that has been signed by Democratic Gov. Bob Ferguson adds members of the clergy to the state’s list of mandated reporters of child abuse. That itself is not a big deal, but the law went further…
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