The Department of Justice (DOJ) has initiated a lawsuit against the state of Washington regarding a recently enacted law that requires priests to breach the seal of confession if they learn about child abuse during the sacrament of reconciliation. In a press release announcing the lawsuit filed on June 23, the DOJ stated that this law “violates the free exercise of religion for all Catholics.”
On May 3, Washington Governor Bob Ferguson signed Senate Bill 5375 into law, which is set to take effect on July 27. The law mandates that priests disclose any child abuse they learn about in confession, while exempting other professionals, such as nurses and therapists, from similar mandatory reporting requirements.
Under this new legislation, priests who fail to report abuse disclosed during confession could face penalties of up to 364 days in jail and a $5,000 fine. Governor Ferguson, who identifies as Catholic, defended the law in May, asserting that he is “very familiar” with the practice of confession but considers the legislation crucial for protecting children.
In a letter dated May 5 to Governor Ferguson, Harmeet Dhillon, the assistant attorney general of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division, informed the governor of the DOJ’s intent to investigate the recently passed law and requested the state to preserve all records and communications related to the bill.
The exemption of certain professionals from mandatory reporting laws, as seen in Washington’s legislation, raises questions about the consistency of child protection efforts. Critics argue that such discrepancies can undermine the goal of ensuring comprehensive reporting and protection for all children.
