SEATTLE (WA)
KING-TV, Ch. 5 [Seattle WA]
July 17, 2025
By Helen Smith
Tacoma WA – Editor’s note: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated the type of legal ruling that was issued against Washington’s mandatory reporter law.
County prosecutors in Washington state have agreed not to enforce a state law requiring clergy to report child abuse or neglect, if they learned about it in confession. That’s according to a stipulation document filed in the case.
Catholic leaders claim the law violates their First Amendment right to free exercise of religion by requiring that they break the seal of confession, which is grounds for immediate excommunication in the Catholic Church.
There is still an ongoing request for a judge to file an injunction before the law’s effective date, on July 27. If a judge does grant that, it would stop the law from taking effect at the state level.
Previously, anything a clergy member learned through confession was considered confidential under clergy-penitent privilege. Similar to attorney-client privilege or spousal privilege, this means a priest or minister cannot be called to testify under oath about what someone told them in confession.
The bill, titled “Clergy – Duty to Report Child Abuse and Neglect,” stipulates that clergy-penitent privilege would no longer be recognized in Washington state when it comes to learning allegations of child abuse. Things members of the clergy learn in confession would still be confidential otherwise. Failing to make a report is a gross misdemeanor in Washington, punishable by 364 days in prison, a fine of $5,000, or both.
In a previous interview with KING 5, Archbishop of Seattle Paul Etienne said Catholic priests had no intention of honoring the law, should it have ever taken effect.
“Our priests have told me, Archbishop, I’ll go to prison before I allow the state to coerce any such information from me, and I think all of our priests feel that way,” he said.
The bill’s prime sponsor, state Sen. Noel Frame, said the bill was about protecting children from physical and sexual abuse and institutional cover-ups.
Gov. Bob Ferguson has also signaled his continued support for the bill, saying when the lawsuit was filed by Catholic officials: “I’m disappointed my Church is filing a federal lawsuit to protect individuals who abuse kids.”