OLYMPIA (WA)
Paces Connection [Bonita, CA]
August 7, 2025
By Jeoffry Gordon
July 27 could have been a landmark day for the survivors of child abuse.
That was the day that Washington state’s new law designating clergy as mandatory reporters — even if the abuse was discovered during confession or spiritual counseling — was set to take effect. Just as teachers, childcare workers, and law enforcement officers must report knowledge of child abuse, Washington became the first state in the nation to mandate that all clergy must do so as well.
But just 72 hours after Washington’s governor signed the law, the Seattle Archdiocese, along with Yakima and Spokane, filed a federal lawsuit to stop it.
Predictably, Donald Trump has now joined the fray. His Department of Justice is backing the Catholic clergy’s lawsuit, falsely claiming that mandatory reporting laws infringe on religious liberty and are inherently “anti-Catholic.” Now, a Federal judge has blocked the law — maintaining a status quo where clergy can refuse to report ongoing harm to children.
Preserving the right to cover up abuse when it suits you isn’t “religious liberty” — it’s putting protecting the institution of the church over the wellbeing of vulnerable people. The Seattle Archdiocese must drop this lawsuit immediately.
Add your name and tell the Washington State Catholic Conference to drop their lawsuit against Washington’s mandatory reporting law
https://act.faithfulamerica.or…1%2E1085705%2E98rA1d
Sign the petition:
Dear Most Reverend Paul D. Etienne of the Archdiocese of Seattle and the rest of the Washington State Catholic Conference,
We are troubled by the conference’s lawsuit against the state of Washington to block SB 5375, the mandatory reporting law.
Children deserve freedom from physical, verbal, and sexual harm in ALL circumstances. Clergy must prioritize their protection over the preferences of their abusers or the institutions they serve.
As Christians and people of shared values, we know that the most vulnerable among us deserve our greatest defense, and SB 5375 must be allowed to take effect. We are asking you to drop the lawsuit and offer clear support and guidance for your clergy as mandatory reporters.
Thank you.