DOJ Targets Law That Threatens Sacred Seal of Catholic Confession
The Trump administration has started a civil rights investigation into Washington State Senate Bill 5375, which was signed into law by Democratic Governor Bob Ferguson last week. The new law requires “members of the clergy” and a list of other professionals in Washington State to report information received in a confessional to law enforcement or other state authorities. The specific information to report as noted in the bill includes child abuse or neglect, according to The Justice Department.
“SB 5375 demands that Catholic Priests violate their deeply held faith in order to obey the law, a violation of the Constitution and a breach of the free exercise of religion cannot stand under our Constitutional system of government,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Worse, the law appears to single out clergy as not entitled to assert applicable privileges, as compared to other reporting professionals. We take this matter very seriously and look forward to Washington State’s cooperation with our investigation.”
The list of other reporting professionals includes law enforcement officers, medical examiners, social service counselors, child care providers, and nurses, among other professionals who are mandated to report child abuse and sex crimes to authorities, even if that information was given in a confessional setting, according to Straight Arrow News. The law is set to go into effect in July, and a violation of the law is considered a gross misdemeanor, which is punishable by up to 1 year in jail and a fine of up to $5000.
“While we remain committed to protecting minors and all vulnerable people from abuse, priests cannot comply with this law if the knowledge of abuse is obtained during the Sacrament of Reconciliation,” said Archbishop Paul Etienne of Seattle in a Sunday statement picked up by The Pillar.
“Catholic clergy may not violate the seal of confession – or they will be excommunicated from the Church,” he insisted. “All Catholics must know and be assured that their confessions remain sacred, secure, confidential, and protected by the law of the Church.”
In a statement by The Christian Post, Etienne also noted, “The line between Church and state has been crossed and needs to be walked back. People of every religion in the State of Washington and beyond should be alarmed by this overreach of our Legislature and Governor.”
He added that the new law forces priests into a position in which they would have to “violate their deeply held faith,” which is a violation of the First Amendment, which includes freedom of religion protections.
Freedom From Religion Foundation Legal Director Patrick Elliott claimed in a statement that “This law does not target Christianity or Catholicism,” and that “The DOJ’s position undermines both child safety and the Constitution it purports to defend.”
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Originally published May 08, 2025.
