New Washington State Law Requires Clergy to Violate the Seal of Confession

[Luigi]

Senate Bill 5375 was signed into law by Governor Bob Ferguson (D) on May 2. The link below is the full text of the law; the first five pages are legal definitions of the terms used in the bill - the actual law begins on page 6. Any thoughts? 

https://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2025-26/Pdf/Bills/Senate Passed Legislature/5375.PL.pdf?q=20250525113752 

 

[tinytherese]

I heard about this law. What a tremendous mistake! 

Priests get excommunicated for breaking the seal of confession. With such a penalty, most don't take such a risk. Even if one did, this would keep him from receiving and administering the sacraments.

Even without that, the law just isn't practical. Some people don't do face to face confession and even if they do, the priest may not know who the person is. The penitent may also not be from the area. People do travel after all. So they're tough to track down. I doubt that many predators feel remorse for what they do anyway and even then they may not bother with confession. Predators who learn about the law may avoid going so they don't get reported.

 

[little2add]

Bishop Barron urges court to strike down Washington law that targets seal of confession

 

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/265195/bishop-barron-tells-court-that-washington-law-manifestly-disrespects-seal-of-confession

 

Joint Statement of the Confraternity of Catholic Clergy

Defending the Inviolability of the Seal of Confession

June 27, 2025 – The Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

On this Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the priests and deacons of the American,

Australian, and British Confraternities declare our unequivocal support, defense, and

adherence to the sacred seal of confession which the Catholic Church solemnly teaches

is inviolable with absolutely no exceptions.

We make this declaration after recent several civil laws have been enacted in various

countries which attempt to compel ordained priests to disclose the identity and content

of what a penitent has confessed in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Secular authorities

have made a non-sequitur argument that maintaining total confidentiality of priest and

penitent impedes their prosecution of criminals who have committed heinous crimes

like child abuse. Ironically, these same authorities respect and uphold the institutions of

attorney/client and doctor/patient privilege.

We maintain that criminal investigation and adjudication can be lawfully and morally

done without violating religious liberty. Observing the sacrosanct privacy of a penitent

and their confessor does not prevent nor hinder the police and the courts from doing

their job.

Since penitents may confess their sins anonymously, it is even more absurd to suggest a

priest reveal the identity of the person if no visual contact has been made. Even with

face-to-face confessions, however, the priest is bound by doctrine (Catechism of the

Catholic Church #1467) and discipline (Code of Canon Law #983, #1388) to keep the

content as well as the name of the penitent absolutely secret. If he does not, he incurs

automatic excommunication which can only be lifted by the Roman Pontiff.

The Confraternity of Catholic Clergy maintains that justice can be fully served while

equally respecting the free practice of religion. The Human Rights Act of 1998 in the

U.K., the First Amendment of the Constitution of the U.S.A., and Section 116 of Chapter

V of the Constitution of Australia, all affirm religious liberty.

 

 

 Rev. John Trigilio, President, Confraternity of Catholic Clergy