Overview

• Washington's SB 5375 mandates clergy, including Catholic priests, report child abuse learned in confession, overriding the sacramental seal of confession.
• The law, signed by Governor Bob Ferguson on May 2, excludes clergy from privileged communication protections afforded to other professionals like attorneys and doctors.
• The U.S. Department of Justice has initiated a civil rights investigation, examining the law's conflict with the First Amendment's free exercise clause.
• Catholic bishops in Washington, led by Bishop Thomas Daly, have vowed to uphold the seal of confession despite potential legal penalties, including imprisonment.
• Governor Ferguson and the law's sponsor, Senator Noel Frame, defend the measure as a necessary step to protect children, despite growing opposition and legal scrutiny.