Washington Bishops Fight New Law Forcing Priests to Break Confession Seal

The Catholic bishops of Washington want the federal courts to block a new Washington law that takes effect on July 27.

THE BISHOPS HAVE FILED A LAWSUIT

The law in question requires priests to report abuse if it's shared during a confessional. A press release says attorneys for the bishops including bishop Joseph Tyson of Yakima filed an initial lawsuit in federal court last week. The Bishops say the new law forces priests to "choose between breaking the sacred seal of confession or facing jail time."

THE CHURCH ALREADY REQUIRES PRIESTS TO REPORT ABUSE

The release says the Catholic Church currently requires priests to report abuse to authorities however the exception is if the information is learned during a confession. The Bishops say the new allows protections for lawyers but not priests. They also believe that confession is holy and has been upheld by the church for hundreds of years and that a priest has a sacred obligation to "keep everything he hears during the sacrament of confession completely confidential." The church rules say any priest who violates the tradition faces automatic excommunication.

WILL THE SUIT STOP THE LAW FROM TAKING EFFECT IN JULY?

The new law that takes effect on July 27 carries penalties of a year in jail and a $5,000 fine. It also exposes the priests to possible civil liability.
The press release says the Archdiocese of Seattle and the Dioceses of Spokane and Yakima, priests-and all Church personnel support mandatory reporting except in the instance of confession.

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