US Edition
Catholic Bishops Sue Washington over Law Forcing Priests to Break Confessional Seal in Child Abuse Cases
- Washington state's Catholic bishops filed a federal lawsuit on May 29, 2025, in Tacoma challenging a new law requiring priests to report suspected child abuse even if learned during confession.
- The lawsuit arose after Governor Bob Ferguson signed Senate Bill 5375 on May 2, which expands mandatory reporting to clergy without exception for the confessional seal, unlike most other states.
- Represented by the Becket religious liberty firm, the bishops argue the law forces priests to violate nearly 2,000 years of Church teaching or face criminal penalties including jail and fines.
- Mark Rienzi called the law “about jailing priests for following the Church’s ancient faith practices” and the lawsuit claims the law constitutes religious discrimination violating the First Amendment.
- The lawsuit seeks to block the law’s implementation, arguing it unlawfully burdens religious freedom and risks undermining the trust essential to the sacrament of confession.
43 Articles
43 Articles
Bishop challenges Washington clergy reporting law in federal court
SPOKANE, Wash. – A new law in Washington requiring clergy to report suspected child abuse, even if revealed during confession, is facing legal challenges from several Catholic bishops, including Spokane's Bishop Thomas Daly.
Catholic bishops sue over law forcing priests to violate the seal of confession
Roman Catholic bishops from the state of Washington have filed a lawsuit challenging a new law that forces them to violate the confessional seal, calling it "a blatant intrusion" on their First Amendment rights. #Confession #Abuse #Priests #CatholicChurch #Washington #FirstAmendment #Religiousliberty
New WA law is ‘brazen’ discrimination, Catholic leaders say in lawsuit
Washington’s Catholic leaders sued state leaders and county prosecutors Thursday, alleging that a controversial new law requiring priests to break the confessional seal to report suspected child abuse is “a brazen act of religious discrimination.”
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