The Catholic Church has issued a warning to its clergy in Washington state: Any priest who complies with a new law requiring the reporting of child abuse confessions to authorities will be excommunicated.
The new law, which will take effect on July 27, eliminates the long-standing confidentiality of the confessional, forcing Catholic leaders and lawmakers into a highly charged standoff over religious liberty and child protection.
However, the Archdiocese of Seattle and several bishops argue that the law not only contravenes church doctrine but crosses constitutional lines, while supporters maintain it is a crucial step to protect minors from abuse.
Newsweek contacted the Archdiocese of Seattle and Washington Governor Bob Ferguson and the three Democratic state senators who sponsored the bill for comment via email and online inquiry forms.
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Why It Matters
The issue spotlights the enduring tension between religious freedom and the state’s duty to protect children from abuse. By compelling clergy to breach the confessional seal, Washington joins a small group of states stripping traditional confidentiality protections.
The law has triggered a national conversation about the boundaries of church and state, setting a precedent that could have implications for religious practices and privileged communications nationwide. The outcome may influence how other states approach mandated reporting requirements for clergy, especially as constitutional and civil rights groups enter the debate.
What To Know
Washington’s new statute requires clergy to report suspected child abuse, explicitly denying exceptions for information revealed during confession.
“Catholic clergy may not violate the seal of confession—or they will be excommunicated from the Church,” the Archdiocese of Seattle warned, according to Fox News.
The Catholic Church’s canon law regards breaking the confessional seal as a grave offense: “A confessor who directly violates the seal of confession incurs an automatic excommunication reserved to the Apostolic See.”
The U.S. Department of Justice said it is investigating whether the law infringes on First Amendment religious protections.
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Francis’ funeral took place at the Vatican on April 26, with dignitaries including U.S. President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Prince William in attendance.
The current favorites are Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, according to U.K.-based bookmaker William Hill, with odds of 12/5 (29.4 percent) and 3/1 (25 percent), respectively.
On April 2, Trump sparked controversy by sharing an AI-generated image that depicted him as the pope on his Truth Social website.
What People Are Saying
Speaking to Newsweek Professor Michele Dillon, an expert on Catholicism at the University of New Hampshire, said: “This is highly controversial because it directly challenges a core element of the Catholic faith…For the government to require priests to report any instance of sex abuse that they learn about through the sacrament of confession would directly violate the core of the sacrament and its significance in Catholics’ lives. The Church has made significant strides in recent years to safeguard children from sex abuse, and so it’s unfortunate that the controversy stoked by the Washington State law – and the church’s opposition to it based on core theological belief and practice – may erroneously convey to people who are not familiar with the full meaning of the sacrament that the Church is opposing the requirement simply to evade dealing with the issue of sex abuse.”
Addressing Newsweek, Professor Anthea Butler, chair of the department of Religious Studies at the University of Pennsylvania, commented: “This is about ‘the seal of the confessional’ That is, the rule that when a priest hears a confession, it cannot be shared. If it is shared, it’s breaking Canon Law. A priest can be excommunicated for breaking the seal of the confessional.
“The situation, which the Trump administration is looking at, is interesting because there has always been this collision between the law of the local, state and national level and some aspects of canon law. Think about this not only on this level, but in issues of other types of transgressions, like murder. Terrible situation, but the for the priest, they are subject to canon law.”
The Archdiocese of Seattle: “All Catholics must know and be assured that their confessions remain sacred, secure, confidential and protected by the law of the Church.”
Archbishop Paul Etienne of Seattle: “Priests cannot comply with this law if the knowledge of abuse is obtained during the Sacrament of Reconciliation.”
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon told the New York Post: “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.”
Washington Governor Bob Ferguson: “We look forward to protecting Washington kids from sexual abuse in the face of this ‘investigation’ from the Trump administration.”
What Happens Next
The law’s implementation is set for July 27, unless halted by litigation or further legislative action. The Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division review could determine whether the statute will stand or be blocked on constitutional grounds.
Meanwhile, Catholic bishops indicate they are prepared to face legal consequences rather than violate Church law. This standoff may provoke broader reevaluation of confidentiality protections in other states, as well as the balance between religious freedom and mandated reporting.
Update 7/5/25, 10:30 a.m. ET: This story has been updated to include comment from Professor Michele Dillon.
Update 8/5/25, 2:30 a.m. ET: This story has been updated to include comment from Professor Anthea Butler.
