The divide in America is getting larger. And now the fight is heating up.
Because Catholics took on a Democrat Governor for this egregious assault on the First Amendment
Catholic Clergy Condemn New Washington Law
On May 6, the Confraternity of Catholic Clergy, a national association of priests and deacons, publicly denounced a Washington state law, signed into effect on May 2 by Governor Bob Ferguson, that mandates priests to break the seal of confession when child s*x abuse is disclosed during the sacrament.
The confraternity labeled the legislation a direct assault on religious freedom, arguing that it unconstitutionally compels clergy to violate sacred Catholic doctrine.
The law, according to CatholicVote, explicitly strips legal protections for the confidentiality of the confessional in cases involving abuse, while leaving physician-patient and lawyer-client privileges untouched.
“Criminal prosecution must rely on constitutional methods to convict rather than violate the freedom of religion,” stated Rev. John Trigilio, President of the Confraternity, emphasizing the law’s threat to the First Amendment.
Balancing Child Protection and Sacramental Integrity
The Confraternity’s statement reaffirmed its dual commitment to safeguarding children and preserving the sanctity of the sacraments, asserting that these goals are not mutually exclusive.
Priests who refuse to disclose confessional content related to suspected child s*x abuse face imprisonment under the new law, as well as automatic excommunication from the Catholic Church for violating the seal.
“We encourage penitents to voluntarily report crimes to proper authorities, while maintaining the sacred and inviolable seal of confession,” the Confraternity declared.
“It is not a question of either/or, as if the state must choose between defending children or respecting religion. It has been and can continue to be both/and. Neither obligation should be in jeopardy.”
This stance underscores the group’s call for solutions that respect both legal accountability and religious principles.
Broader Opposition and Legal Scrutiny
Archbishop Paul D. Etienne of Seattle also condemned the law on May 4, invoking biblical precedent to underscore the Church’s position.
“After the apostles were arrested and thrown into jail for preaching the name of Jesus Christ, St. Peter responds to the Sanhedrin: ‘We must obey God rather than men’ (Acts 5:29). This is our stance now in the face of this new law,” he wrote.
Etienne stressed that Catholic clergy are bound by Church law to uphold the confidentiality of confessions, assuring Catholics that their sacramental privacy remains “sacred, secure, confidential and protected.”
The U.S. Department of Justice has launched a civil rights investigation into the law, citing potential violations of the First Amendment.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division stated, “SB 5375 demands that Catholic Priests violate their deeply held faith in order to obey the law, a violation of the Constitution and a breach of the free exercise of religion cannot stand under our Constitutional system of government.”
She further criticized the law for disproportionately targeting clergy, noting, “Worse, the law appears to single out clergy as not entitled to assert applicable privileges, as compared to other reporting professionals.”
The DOJ expressed its intent to pursue the matter rigorously, expecting cooperation from Washington state.
