Agreement Reached on Confession Protection
The government of Washington state and its Catholic bishops have reached an agreement in a federal lawsuit regarding the state's mandatory reporter law.
The law, which was approved by Democratic Gov. Bob Ferguson through Senate Bill 5375, designates members of the clergy as mandatory reporters of suspected or known instances of child abuse or neglect.
The state was blocked from enforcing the law “as to the sacrament of Confession” against priests “who fall directly under the administration” of the bishops leading Washington’s Catholic dioceses.
This agreement was filed with the U.S. district court in Tacoma on October 10.
Author's summary: Bishops and state agree on Confession protection.