New Law Could Shatter Church Confidentiality
Washington state lawmakers have approved a bill requiring clergy members to report instances of child sexual abuse, even if the abuse is confessed in the Catholic confessional. The bill, Senate Bill 5375, was passed by the House with a vote of 64-31 on Friday and now heads to Governor Bob Ferguson for approval.
Senator Noel Frame, a Democrat from Seattle and the sponsor of the bill, expressed that the legislation was long overdue to protect children, likening the role of clergy to that of teachers and doctors, who are also mandated reporters. She argued that clergy should be held to the same standards as other trusted adults when it comes to reporting suspected abuse.
However, the bill faced opposition, particularly from Republican lawmakers like Rep. Jeremie Dufault, who argued that it infringes on religious freedom. The controversy stemmed from the bill’s lack of an exemption for confessions made during religious ceremonies, specifically within the Catholic Church, where priests are bound by the doctrine of secrecy.
SB 5375 would add religious clergy to the list of professionals legally required to report suspected child abuse. The bill has received support from the Clergy Accountability Coalition, an interfaith group that believes the law is necessary to prevent child abuse. The coalition argues that religious exemptions should not apply in cases of abuse, emphasizing the importance of protecting children.
The Catholic Church, through the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, has maintained that priests must uphold the confidentiality of confessions, with excommunication as the penalty for violating this sacred vow. Last year, a similar bill, Senate Bill 6298, failed to progress due to concerns about its impact on the confessional privilege, although it had passed the state Senate overwhelmingly. The Washington State Catholic Conference had warned that enforcing such laws could severely affect the clergy’s ability to maintain the sanctity of confession.