Seal of Confession Under Siege: US Justice Department Sues Washington State

The US Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against Washington state over a new law that requires Catholic priests to break the seal of Confession to report suspected child abuse or neglect. The law, known as Senate Bill 5375, has sparked controversy and raised concerns about religious freedom. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon argues that the law explicitly targets the Catholic Church and its sacrament of confession, forcing priests to choose between their obligations to the Church and the state.

The Justice Department claims that the law violates the First Amendment’s protection of religious freedom and the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause. By compelling priests to disclose information shared during confession, the law undermines the sacred seal of confession, which is essential to the Catholic faith. Catholic bishops in Washington State have already filed a federal lawsuit against the law, arguing that it constitutes a “brazen act of religious discrimination”. If priests comply with the law, they risk being excommunicated from the Catholic Church.

The law is set to take effect in July and would apply to all practicing members of the Catholic Church in Washington State. Notably, the law grants confidentiality protections to other professions, such as doctors and nurses, exempting them from reporting sensitive information. The Catholic Church is not alone in its concerns, as similar laws have sparked debate in other countries, including the UK, where Catholics have expressed alarm over a proposed bill that would require priests to violate the seal of confession.