Overview

• Washington's SB5375, signed into law on May 2, eliminates clergy exemptions for reporting child abuse, including information disclosed during confession.
• The Archdiocese of Seattle has vowed to excommunicate priests who comply with the law, citing Catholic doctrine that protects the seal of confession as inviolable.
• Archbishop Paul Etienne and Bishop Thomas Daly announced they will refuse compliance, even if it results in imprisonment for defying the law.
• The U.S. Department of Justice has launched a civil rights investigation into the law, questioning its constitutionality and labeling it 'anti-Catholic.'
• The law is set to take effect on July 27, 2025, setting up a potential legal battle over religious freedom and child protection mandates.