Washington state has enacted a new law requiring clergy members to report any knowledge or suspicions of child abuse or neglect to authorities, even if the information is obtained through religious confession.
Signed recently by Governor Bob Ferguson of the Democratic Party, the legislation places clergy alongside other mandatory reporters such as teachers and healthcare workers. Notably, the law does not grant exemptions for disclosures made during the sacrament of confession, a decision that has drawn sharp criticism from Catholic leaders.
The Archdiocese of Seattle swiftly responded with a declaration that any Catholic priest who breaks the seal of confession to comply with the new state law will face excommunication. The Church emphasized that the confidentiality of confession is an unbreakable religious tenet and must be upheld under all circumstances.
In a statement, Church officials acknowledged the importance of protecting children and preventing abuse, affirming their commitment to working with survivors and maintaining strict safeguarding measures. They clarified that clergy are already required to report suspected abuse except when such information is disclosed during confession.
“The sanctity of the confessional is absolute in Catholic doctrine,” the statement read. “Any breach of this sacred confidentiality is grounds for automatic excommunication. All Catholics must be able to trust that their confessions remain private, protected not only by church law but by the integrity of their faith.”
Despite agreeing with the goal of the new law, that is, to enhance child protection efforts, the Church maintains that no civil mandate can override what it views as a divine obligation.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division has launched a review of the law, examining whether it infringes on First Amendment rights. The outcome could set a significant precedent in the ongoing debate over the boundaries between church and state in matters involving both public safety and religious doctrine.
The law is scheduled to take effect on July 26.
