One of the most sacred tenets of Catholic Church is the confidentiality of the confessional. Catholic priests have stuck to the vow of silence in lieu of confession, even if it involved grave crimes. However, a new Washington State law is ready to challenge this vow.
This new law requires clergy to notify authorities of confessions of child abuse. This essentially strips the confessional of its long-standing legal protections. The law goes into effect on July 27, 2025.
As expected, the Church is not happy with the law venturing into the religious territory. The Archdiocese of Seattle has issued a stern warning to the clergy. It says that any priest who sides with the new law by revealing confessional content would be excommunicated.
This law is seen by the Church as a serious breach of canon law. Catholic doctrine holds that the seal of confession is untouchable. One of the worst things a priest can do is to break it, especially under the pressure of the law.
“New Law Requires Priests to Break Seal of Confession to Report Child Abuse
The state law, in Washington, applies to all religions but has outraged Catholics in particular. The Justice Department is investigating.”https://t.co/wr6quCsA9Y pic.twitter.com/YJPWFILlaQ— Ron POMO (@Ron_POMO) May 8, 2025
Archbishop Paul Etienne is maintaining the church’s position on a vow of secrecy for confessionals. The church is standing firm on its stance. Archbishop Paul said that the law puts clergy in “a very difficult situation”. The law is forcing clergy to decide between civic duty and eternal spiritual repercussions.
However, lawmakers in Washington are arguing that no institution should be exempt from the legislation when it comes to preventing harm. They claim that the law is the same for all and that the law is required to shield vulnerable children from abuse. The goal of the new law is to close a gap in reporting laws. This previously allowed religious confessions to be excluded.
Supporters argue that this provision imposes the same legal obligations on all adults, including clergy, to report suspicions of abuse.
Catholic authorities are presenting the counterargument, saying that a priest who receives confession is not an advisor or representative of the public. Confessions are for the soul and are under the vow of confidentiality. They also said that the law is essentially misrepresenting the clergy.
The Seal of Confession is inviolable under pain of death.
Washington’s governor has declared war on the Sacrament.
This is tyranny, blasphemy, and persecution.
The Archbishop must excommunicate the governor and place the land under Interdict or fail his sacred duty before God.… pic.twitter.com/FrG7PSk6JZ
— 𝔸𝕋𝕣𝕒𝕕ℂ𝕒𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕝𝕚𝕔 ☧ (@ATradCatholic) May 3, 2025
The new law is currently being investigated by the U.S. Department of Justice. The inquiry is to see if it violates any constitutional rights, including the First Amendment, which provides religious freedom. Legal experts caution that forcing clergy to violate the confessional seal could set a precedent. It could affect all religious traditions with private spiritual practices, not just Catholicism.
Priests are charged or punished for enforcing Church law. However, the legal dispute may proceed to federal courts and ultimately to the Supreme Court.
Religious scholars are cautiously weighing in. Catholicism specialist Professor Michele Dillon cautions that the law might misrepresent the Church as unbothered about abuse. Given the history of accusations of child abuse in the catholic church, she is not wrong either.
She emphasizes that confession is not a way to cover up wrongdoing. It is a sacrament of spiritual rebirth.
Washington State wants to pass a law which would force priests to report child abuse even if they learn of it during confession.
Priests that violate confession are automatically excommunicated from the Church.
They want to pass a law forcing priests to decide between jail…
— Insurrection Barbie (@DefiyantlyFree) February 6, 2025
Religious studies specialist Professor Anthea Butler highlights wider issues. She points out that the law may put additional strain on the already difficult equilibrium between the church and the local legal system. “This isn’t just a church issue,” she stated. “This calls into question the foundation of religious freedom in the United States.”
Church leaders are not giving up, even as the implementation date in July draws closer. Bishops in Washington have made it clear that they would rather be prosecuted than give priests instructions that break canon law. The resolution may influence national policy in the future pertaining to required reporting and religious freedom.
In the meantime, this conflict highlights important issues regarding how society has to find a balance between respecting religious freedom and safeguarding society’s most vulnerable people.
