The Catholic Church has vowed to excommunicate any priest who follows a new Washington state law requiring clergy to report child abuse to law enforcement – even in the privacy of a confession booth.
Priests in Washington have always had something similar to attorney-client privilege when hearing confessions, but the new law — which Gov. Bob Ferguson signed on Friday — revokes that protection for talk of child abuse or neglect.
The law, set to take effect on July 27, 2025, eliminates the long-standing confidentiality of the confessional, placing Catholic priests in a challenging position between adhering to their religious doctrine and following state law.
The Washington state law adds clergy to the list of mandatory reporters—professionals such as teachers, medical personnel, and law enforcement officers—who are legally obligated to report suspected child abuse or neglect.
Unlike most states, which exempt information obtained during religious confessions from mandatory reporting, Washington’s new statute explicitly denies this privilege.
This change revokes the previous protection that allowed priests to maintain confidentiality, similar to attorney-client privilege, during the sacrament of reconciliation.
The law’s sponsor, State Senator Noel Frame, stated that the legislation was partly motivated by practices within certain religious groups, such as the Jehovah’s Witnesses, that have historically hindered the reporting of child abuse due to secretive internal processes.
However, the law’s broad application to all clergy has raised concerns about its impact on religious practices, particularly within the Catholic Church, where the seal of confession is considered inviolable.
The Catholic Church, particularly the Archdiocese of Seattle, has taken a firm stance against the new law.
In a statement, the archdiocese declared, “Catholic clergy may not violate the seal of confession—or they will be excommunicated from the Church. All Catholics must know and be assured that their confessions remain sacred, secure, confidential, and protected by the law of the Church.”
According to Catholic canon law, breaking the seal of confession is a grave offense that incurs automatic excommunication, a penalty reserved for the Apostolic See.
Archbishop Paul D. Etienne of Seattle emphasized the Church’s commitment to protecting children, noting that diocesan policies already require priests to report suspicions of abuse obtained outside the confessional.
The Archdiocese of Seattle, which includes 160 priests and 90 permanent deacons as of 2024, has indicated it will appeal the law, arguing that it violates religious liberty and constitutional protections.
Bishop Thomas Daly of Spokane echoed this sentiment, stating that priests are prepared to face jail rather than violate the sacramental seal.
The Church’s position has garnered support from some quarters, with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) launching a civil rights investigation into the law.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon described the legislation as “anti-Catholic,” arguing that it demands priests violate their faith, potentially breaching the First Amendment’s free exercise clause.
