Washington will not require priests to report child abuse disclosed in confession

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Clergy must still tell authorities of potential mistreatment but will not have to divulge information they hear in confession, under a settlement of lawsuits challenging the requirement.

By: Jerry Cornfield
-
Washington has abandoned its effort to force Catholic priests and other religious leaders to divulge information on child abuse and neglect they learn of in confession.

With a pair of legal filings, the state agreed not to enforce the controversial provision of a new state law that adds clergy to a list of professions that must report to law enforcement when they have “reasonable cause to believe that a child has suffered abuse or neglect.”

Stipulations filed in federal court on Friday will largely preserve the law, while casting aside the controversial component related to confessions. Catholic bishops and Orthodox churches sued over that element, arguing it was unconstitutional.

The agreements the state reached in those cases reflect the preliminary injunction issued by a federal judge that has prevented the state and counties from enforcing the confessional reporting provision since the law took effect July 27.

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2025/10/10/washington-will-not-require-priests-to-report-child-abuse-disclosed-in-confession/

[walkingman]

1. Total religious BS....

“a victory for religious freedom and for common sense. Priests should never be forced to make the impossible choice of betraying their sacred vows or going to jail.”

This is not religious freedom, it is covering up crimes and using religion as an excuse to do so.

[stopdiggin]

2. there was never ANY chance that this law

(or this provision in the law) would pass muster. (and legislators had to be well aware of this fact ahead of passage) So - a big "Thanks" - for the wastage of time, and money ...

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -