DOJ Sues Washington State Over Catholic Confession Law
The U.S. Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against Washington state officials over a controversial new law requiring Catholic priests to violate the confidentiality of confession. The law, known as SB 5375, mandates clergy to report information shared during confession, even if it means breaking the sacred seal that is central to Catholic practice. This legal action follows nationwide debate over the balance between religious liberty and mandatory reporting laws, a topic that has drawn increased attention since similar issues were raised in other states.
Confession is a core tenet of the Catholic Church, where individuals in a state of serious sin seek reconciliation with God by disclosing their sins to a priest. The confidentiality of this process is absolute; priests are bound by canon law to never reveal what is said during confession. Violating this confidentiality, known as the seal of confession, results in immediate excommunication for clergy, underscoring the seriousness of the vow. Recent coverage by Reuters has highlighted the global implications of such laws, emphasizing the church’s longstanding commitment to confidentiality.
“Laws that explicitly target religious practices, such as the Sacrament of Confession in the Catholic Church, have no place in our society,” stated Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon. “Senate Bill 5375 unconstitutionally forces Catholic priests in Washington to choose between their obligations to the Catholic Church and their penitents or face criminal consequences, while treating the priest-penitent privilege differently than other well-settled privileges. The Justice Department will not sit idly by when states mount attacks on the free exercise of religion.” This legal stance is consistent with prior federal interventions on religious freedom.
Washington’s bishops have also challenged SB 5375, arguing that it represents an unconstitutional violation of religious liberty under the First and Fourteenth Amendments. The Justice Department’s intervention aligns with the bishops’ ongoing lawsuit, which asserts that priests should not be compelled to break the sanctity of confessional communications. According to The Washington Post, the legal battle over this law has become a focal point in the broader discussion on the intersection of faith and government regulation.
The Justice Department’s complaint is currently pending before a federal court in the Western District of Washington. The outcome could have far-reaching effects on both religious practice and mandatory reporting laws across the country.
–Alan Goforth
