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Priest in Washington: Confessional secrecy endangered by new law!
A new law in Washington requires priests to report child abuse, despite the threat to the confidentiality of confession.
Priest in Washington: Confessional secrecy endangered by new law!
A new law is making waves in Washington state that requires priests to report confessions of child abuse. Democratic Governor Bob Ferguson signed the controversial bill S.B. 5375 in May 2025, and it will go into effect on July 27, 2025. This not only causes excitement in the Catholic Church, but is also perceived as an attack on religious freedom. Seattle Archbishop Paul Dennis Etienne is critical of the new rule, saying it forces priests into an impossible position of choosing between honoring their religious obligations and risking prison time. A lawsuit against the law has already been filed, supported by other bishops from the region, who called the law anti-Catholic regard.
The law clarifies that there is a reporting requirement for acquiring information about abuse obtained in the confessional. In contrast, certain professions, such as doctors and spouses, remain exempt from this requirement. Many priests and church officials are concerned that this requirement could undermine believers' trust in the confessional. This place is traditionally considered a retreat for believers who ask for God's grace and guidance, and could now lead to people no longer daring to confess their sins. Psychologist Thomas Plante warns that lifting confessional secrecy could have a negative impact on people's willingness to self-report abuse. “If people believe their secrets are not safe, they may be hesitant to open up,” he explains.
Contradiction and reactions
The decision to enact the law was made by a clear majority in the House of Representatives and Senate. This shows how seriously the problem of sexual abuse is perceived, and the aim of the law is to prevent such acts and to hold perpetrators accountable. While child protection organizations welcome this measure as a necessary step to prevent sexual abuse, critics see it as an infringement on religious freedom protected by the constitution. Those too German Protestant Church expresses concern about the measures in the USA and refers to similar debates that have already taken place in Canada and France.
The bishops' lawsuit is seen as an important moment, with a decision expected later this summer. If the law remains in place despite the legal disputes, it will affect around 250 priests and permanent deacons in the Archdiocese of Seattle. Comparable regulations already exist in Georgia, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Texas and West Virginia - so Washington is far from the first state with this type of legislation. Abuse cases are a sensitive issue in the Catholic Church, and it is known that some dioceses in the United States have had to file for bankruptcy to meet claims for damages.
Given the far-reaching consequences of the new law, both for the faith of believers and for priests, it remains to be seen how the legal situation will develop and what changes it might bring in practice.