Washington State Democrats Target Clergy, Removing Confession Privilege

No one should be surprised that Democrats are going after Christianity, are they? Because the law doesn’t mention Islam

Washington Governor Signs Law Steamrolling One Of Catholicism’s Most Sacred Practices

Democratic Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson signed a bill May 2 forcing Catholic priests to break their seal of confession in cases of alleged child abuse.

The bill, introduced in the state senate in January, requires clergymen to be added to the state’s list of mandatory reporters in cases of suspected abuse or neglect of a child, even if the information is discovered during a confessional. “Except for members of the clergy, no one shall be required to report under this section when he or she obtains the information solely as a result of a privileged communication as provided in RCW 5.60.060,” the legislation read.

Ferguson, who is Catholic, signed the bill into law and told reporters he felt it was “pretty straightforward,” KXYL.com reported.

“My uncle was a Jesuit priest for many years, (I’ve) been to confession myself – and so I’m very familiar with that,” Ferguson said. “I felt this was important legislation and protecting kids is first priority.”

You can tell your lawyer something in privilege, but, not your clergy. Which does seem to be aimed directly at Catholics. They could have used language that mentioned any religious leaders who are told things in confidence, but, they didn’t. Regardless, does this violate the 1st Amendment?

As the Washington anti-confession law is written, anyone who is clergy is a mandated reporter in all circumstances & can’t have privileged communications.

There are lawyers who are also clergy (I know several lawyers who are permanent deacons or training to be so). As it is… https://t.co/59wVn0sOim

— Fr Matthew P. Schneider, LC (@FrMatthewLC) May 5, 2025

But, it was not the federal congress passing a law about religion, violating the 1st Amendment. Does Washington state passing a law violate the 1st? How about the Washington state Constitution?

Absolute freedom of conscience in all matters of religious sentiment, belief and worship, shall be guaranteed to every individual, and no one shall be molested or disturbed in person or property on account of religion; but the liberty of conscience hereby secured shall not be so construed as to excuse acts of licentiousness or justify practices inconsistent with the peace and safety of the state….

In other words, the state of Washington can apparently come after the Catholic church, and any religion, if they think they are involved in, well, damned near anything if it offends the state. Per that last bit they can tell people they are not allowed to protest against LGBTwhatever and abortion and other things Democrats support.

The solution, per Washington clergy, is to hold confession without knowing who the person is. If someone wants to tell them something in privilege names and faces will be hidden. Or people just won’t be able to practice their religion. But, of course, if it is a Muslim a jihadi can tell their Imam they are planning to blow something up and it would be no legal problem.

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