Published 6 days ago • loading... • Updated 3 days ago

DOJ Sues Wash. over Law Mandating Priests to Report Child Abuse

On May 9, Washington State enacted Senate Bill 5375, mandating that clergy report any child abuse disclosed during confession within 48 hours.
The law seeks to stop long-standing institutional concealment of abuse cases, including those involving Jehovah’s Witnesses in Washington.
The Justice Department filed a lawsuit describing the law as anti-Catholic and arguing it violates the First Amendment by forcing priests to break the confessional seal.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon stated that statutes singling out religious rites like the confidentiality of confession are unacceptable in our society, while Archbishop Etienne emphasized that priests would choose imprisonment over violating the sanctity of the confessional seal.
The law will take effect on July 27 despite opposition, and its legal and religious challenges may influence mandatory reporting laws and religious freedom debates in other states.

Insights by Ground AI

Does this summary seem wrong?

55 Articles

All

Left

Center

Right

MSNBC

Left

DOJ sues Washington state over law requiring clergy to report possible child abuse

The Trump administration is suing the state of Washington over a law meant to curb child abuse

4 days ago·United States

Read Full Article

The National Pulse

Right

Trump DOJ Takes Democrat State to Court for Trying to Force Priests to Break Seal of Confession.

PULSE POINTSWHAT HAPPENED: The Department of Justice (DOJ) is launching legal action against Washington State for trying to force Catholic priests to violate the Seal of the Sacrament of Confession.WHO WAS INVOLVED: Washington State, Governor Bob Ferguson (D), the Roman Catholic Church, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon.WHEN & WHERE: The DOJ announced the lawsuit on June 25.KEY QUOTE: “Laws that explicitly target religious practices …

4 days ago

Read Full Article

The Western Journal

Right

Trump DOJ Comes to the Defense of Priests Being Targeted by New Blue-State Law

The Department of Justice is suing the state of Washington over a law that compels priests to reveal certain information they learn during the holy sacrament of confession. The DOJ […] The post Trump DOJ Comes to the Defense of Priests Being Targeted by New Blue-State Law appeared first on The Western Journal.

4 days ago·Phoenix, United States

Read Full Article