logo
Spokane and Seattle bishops say they won't comply with new mandatory reporting for child abuse if information obtained in confessions

Spokane and Seattle bishops say they won't comply with new mandatory reporting for child abuse if information obtained in confessions

Yahoo08-05-2025

May 7—The Catholic bishops in Spokane and Seattle have told parishioners they will not fully comply with a new Washington law that requires clergy to report sexual abuse to police, similar to teachers, police officers and other professionals.
Catholic leaders say that priests who hear confessions are obligated to keep those confessions secret, but that they are supportive of the rule outside of the Catholic sacrament of confession.
The U.S. Department of Justice announced this week that it has opened an investigation into the law, alleging that it "appears on its face to violate the First Amendment."
In separate statements, Thomas Daly, bishop of Spokane, said "shepherds, bishops and priests, are committed to keeping the seal of confession — even to the point of going to jail," and Archbishop Paul Etienne of Seattle said those who break the seal of confession face excommunication from the church.
"All Catholics must know and be assured that their confessions remain sacred, secure, confidential, and protected by the law of the Church," Etienne wrote.
Gov. Bob Ferguson signed the law Friday that will take effect on July 27. Washington is one of five states that does not designate clergy as mandatory reporters, but most states exempt the sacrament of confession.
Under current state law, a variety of other professions that frequently interact with children, including police officers, nurses and school personnel, are required to report incidents of suspected abuse within 48 hours, with failure to do so considered a gross misdemeanor.
In a statement Monday, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon said the law "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."
In a statement Wednesday, Ferguson said, "We look forward to protecting Washington kids from sexual abuse in the face of this 'investigation' from the Trump Administration."
The legislation Ferguson signed does not include an exemption for the information learned during penitential communication, or communication between clergy and a congregation member, such as in the confession of sins. Daly said in a statement Friday that the "Sacrament of Penance is sacred and will remain that way in the Diocese of Spokane."
"For those legislators who question our commitment to the safety of your children, simply speak with any mom who volunteers with a parish youth group, any Catholic school teacher, any dad who coaches a parochial school basketball team or any priest, deacon or seminarian, and you will learn firsthand about our solid protocols and procedures," Daly wrote.
According to Daly, the Diocese of Spokane maintains a department called the Office of Child and Youth Protection and has a zero-tolerance policy for child sex abuse.
On Sunday, Etienne said the first reading from that day's Mass was from the Acts of the Apostles.
"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)," Etienne wrote. "This is our stance now in the face of this new law."
In a statement, Etienne cited two chapters of Canon Law, which state in part that "The sacramental seal is inviolable" and that a "confessor who directly violates the sacramental seal incurs a latae sententiae (automatic) excommunication."
According to Etienne, current church policies already designate priests as mandatory reporters, unless the information is obtained during confession.
"While we remain committed to protecting minors and all vulnerable people from abuse, priests cannot comply with this law if the knowledge of abuse is obtained during the Sacrament of Reconciliation," Etienne wrote.
According to Etienne, the Washington State Catholic Conference staff discussed the proposal with legislators during the session. However, "efforts to collaborate on an amicable solution eventually failed this session, ushering this most extreme version of the bill to pass."
Once passed, the bishops of the state of Washington requested a meeting to discuss the legislation with Ferguson, who, according to Etienne, did not respond.
As he signed the bill into law on Friday, Ferguson said it "protects Washingtonians from abuse and harm."
A Catholic, Ferguson said his uncle served as a Jesuit priest "for many, many, many years here in the Pacific Northwest."
"I obviously have a personal perspective on this," Ferguson said. "But protecting our kids first is the most important thing."
Ferguson added that the need for the law was "very clear" and that it was "very important legislation."
Sen. Noel Frame, D-Seattle, the bill's sponsor, introduced similar legislation in both 2023 and 2024. In 2023, a proposal that did not contain an exemption for confidential penitential communication failed. The version proposed by Frame last year would have established a "duty to warn" for abuse disclosed in penitential communication, though that, too, failed.
Ahead of a vote in the Senate, Frame told lawmakers that the bill is about "checking on the child."
"This is about making sure we, the state, have the information we need to go make sure that kid is OK," Frame said. "What our mandatory reporter laws do is, it compels our Department of Children, Youth and Families or law enforcement to further investigate and substantiate that report, but in the meantime, make sure that child is safe."

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

New fencing along I-405 in downtown Portland aimed to deter camping
New fencing along I-405 in downtown Portland aimed to deter camping

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

New fencing along I-405 in downtown Portland aimed to deter camping

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Crews started installing new wrought iron fencing along the northbound side of Interstate 405 this week in downtown Portland, part of a joint effort by the city and state to improve safety and reduce camping near the freeway. The project is led by the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) in partnership with Portland Solutions, the city's homelessness and livability team. It includes permanent fencing along Southwest 13th and 14th avenues, totaling nearly $840,000. According to city officials, fencing along Southwest 13th Avenue will cost $457,000, while work on 14th Avenue is estimated at $383,000. Due to supply chain delays, the city is also spending more than $64,000 on temporary silver fencing to secure the site in the interim. That fencing is expected to be reused on future projects. Despite the barriers, some unhoused residents are still accessing the area. 'I'm staying because it's very hot and I don't have a place to go,' said Shaana, a man who's lived on the streets for the past two years. ODOT spokesperson David House said the agency has been installing or repairing fencing near highways in Portland, Salem and Eugene for years to reduce hazards associated with unauthorized encampments. He emphasized that camping along state highway right-of-ways is illegal and often dangerous, not only for those living there but also for passing drivers and pedestrians. 'What we see is where people are camping, doing graffiti, or taking shortcuts across busy roads,' House said. 'It's something we've been doing for decades and will continue to do.' The fencing project falls within ODOT's current 2023–25 biennium budget, which ends this month. No additional state highway fencing projects are scheduled at this time, and the city said it does not have other immediate projects of this scale planned. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Dozens of anti-ICE protesters busted at Trump Tower after lobby takeover: ‘Bring them home!'
Dozens of anti-ICE protesters busted at Trump Tower after lobby takeover: ‘Bring them home!'

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

Dozens of anti-ICE protesters busted at Trump Tower after lobby takeover: ‘Bring them home!'

About two dozen anti-ICE protesters swarmed the lobby of Trump Tower in Manhattan Monday, and were busted after refusing to leave. The mostly grey-haired crowd sat together on the ground, chanting, 'Bring them back! Bring them home!' as NYPD cops descended on the Fifth Avenue skyscraper around 1 p.m. The group called for the release of inmates from the notorious hellhole prison CECOT in El Salvador – where migrants deported from the US, and even 'dangerous' American citizens convicted of heinous crimes are held in overcrowded cells. 'We are demanding that the administration bring back everyone from CECOT to the United States, release them ICE custody, return them to their homes and families and allow them their day in court,' demanded a woman leading the protest. The NYPD confirmed that the protesters were given multiple orders to disperse from the lobby, but refused to comply. An audio recording with the message, 'This is the New York City Police Department. You are occupying these premises unlawfully and without permission. I am ordering you to leave these premises now. If you refuse to leave, you may be subject to arrest,' played before police began placing the crew in zip-tie handcuffs. Sources say 24 demonstrators were rounded up by the NYPD. Charges were not immediately filed.

Torched driverless taxis prompt Waymo to stop downtown L.A. service
Torched driverless taxis prompt Waymo to stop downtown L.A. service

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

Torched driverless taxis prompt Waymo to stop downtown L.A. service

After five of Waymo's driverless taxis went up in flames Sunday during anti-ICE protests in downtown Los Angeles, costing the company hundreds of thousands of dollars, questions remain about how the vehicles made their way into the area. Waymo eventually suspended service downtown after officials with the Los Angeles Police Department reportedly advised the company to do so. In footage captured by KTLA, a row of vehicles on North Los Angeles Street, near Arcadia Street, all tagged with graffiti, were seen fully engulfed in flames as dense black smoke thickened the air, while many of those on the street continued to vandalize and photograph them. While it's unclear exactly how protesters started the car fires, there were reports that spray paint was used as an accelerant, with video capturing at least one of the autonomous vehicles exploding. Police eventually closed Los Angeles Street north of Arcadia and South Alameda Streets and declared an unlawful assembly. Los Angeles Police Department Captain Erik Scott said that battery systems in electric vehicles are often difficult to apply water to during a fire and especially in the chaotic environment of Sunday evening's violent demonstrations. The department, according to Scott, had to just allow the cars to burn, which caused an increased threat to public health. L.A. driver goes on high-speed rampage amid violent downtown protests 'When lithium-ion batteries burn, they release hydrogen-fluoride gas that is a highly toxic substance that could damage your lungs and can be absorbed through the skin,' Scott explained. 'It can cause serious internal harm.' According to a 2024 report by the Wall Street Journal, analysts estimated that Waymo's driverless cars cost between $150,000 and $200,000 each. With the five destroyed robotaxis, the cost of damages would amount to roughly between $750,000 to $1 million, based on WSJ's estimate. As for how the Waymo taxis made their way downtown to begin with, investigators and the company are looking into whether protesters may have used the app to order up the cars and light them on fire or, as other have speculated, protesters intercepted the vehicles from customers attempting to flee the area. The company that the suspended downtown service may lead to increased wait times in other areas of L.A. and that as of right now, there is word on when service will resume in the area. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store