Washington Law Forces Priests to Break Confessional Seal Amid DOJ Civil Rights Probe

Washington state's Senate Bill 5375, signed into law by Democratic Governor Bob Ferguson, requires clergy, including Catholic priests, to report suspected child abuse even if learned during confession, effectively mandating priests to break the seal of confession or face legal penalties. The Catholic Church and associated clergy groups strongly oppose the law, arguing it violates the First Amendment's protection of religious freedom by singling out priests, whereas other privileged communications like doctor-patient and attorney-client remain protected. The Church has declared that priests who comply with the law will face automatic excommunication under Canon Law, emphasizing the sacramental seal of confession as inviolable and essential to Catholic faith and salvation. The U.S. Justice Department has opened a civil rights investigation into the law, citing concerns about its conflict with free exercise rights and its unique targeting of clergy. Church leaders reaffirm their commitment to protecting children and encourage voluntary reporting of crimes, maintaining that both obligations are not mutually exclusive. Critics note that the law distracts from addressing systemic abuse within the Church, focusing instead on confessional secrecy rather than institutional accountability.