Catholic Church to excommunicate priests for following WA law requiring child abuse confessions to be reported
The Catholic Church has made a bold statement regarding a new Washington state law that requires clergy to report confessions about child abuse to law enforcement. According to the Archdiocese of Seattle, priests who comply with this law will face excommunication from the Church.
In a recent announcement, the Archdiocese emphasized that the seal of confession is sacred and must be upheld at all costs. Priests are obligated to keep any information disclosed during confession confidential and cannot disclose it to law enforcement authorities. This stance reflects the Church’s firm commitment to protecting the sanctity of the confessional and ensuring that individuals can trust that their confessions are secure and confidential.
While the Catholic Church acknowledges the importance of safeguarding children and preventing child abuse, it firmly asserts that priests cannot violate the seal of confession to comply with the new law. The Church remains dedicated to reporting child sexual abuse, supporting victims, and safeguarding minors and vulnerable individuals.
The recently enacted law in Washington state adds “members of the clergy” to the list of professionals required to report information related to child abuse or neglect to law enforcement. However, the law does not provide an exception for information shared during confession, putting priests in a difficult position between upholding their religious beliefs and complying with legal requirements.
The U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division has initiated an investigation into the law for potential violations of religious protections outlined in the First Amendment. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon expressed concerns about the law compelling Catholic priests to go against their faith, highlighting the importance of upholding the free exercise of religion.
The Archdiocese of Seattle has voiced its opposition to the law, stating that it infringes on religious freedoms and represents government overreach. The Church believes that the legislation unfairly targets clergy and fails to respect the boundary between Church and state. The Archdiocese has called for a reevaluation of the law, emphasizing the need to uphold religious liberties and protect the rights of all individuals, regardless of their faith.
With the new law set to take effect on July 26, Washington joins a small number of states that do not provide exemptions for information obtained through confession in mandatory reporting requirements. The Archdiocese of Seattle has urged people of all faiths to be concerned about this government intrusion into religious practices and has called for a retraction of the law to restore the balance between religious freedom and state regulation.
