Latest Breaking News

BumRushDaShow

(158,969 posts) Mon Jun 23, 2025, 05:55 PM Jun 23

'Will not sit idly by': DOJ sues to prevent Catholic priests from violating secrecy of confessional by having to report [View all]

Source: Law & Crime

Jun 23rd, 2025, 2:38 pm

The Trump administration and the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice are going to bat for Catholic priests, the sacrament of penance, and the seal of confession, claiming in a lawsuit against the state of Washington that newly-signed mandatory reporting legislation amounts to an attack on the First Amendment and the free exercise of religion.

The DOJ said Monday that it's suing in order to intervene and protect Catholic priests from having to choose between excommunication from the church — if they were to speak of a given confession — or facing potential prosecution by the state, if they did not comply with child abuse and neglect reporting mandates.

The lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington asserts that SB 5375, set to take effect as of July 27, violates the First and 14th Amendments of the U.S. Constitution by purporting to compel clerics to report child abuse or neglect and thereby override their sincere religious beliefs.

Under the law, when "any member of the clergy … has reasonable cause to believe that a child has suffered abuse or neglect, he or she shall report such incident, or cause a report to be made, to the proper law enforcement agency," the law says. The duty to report already exists for others in positions of responsibility outside the context of religion, including law enforcement officers, psychologists, nurses, and child care providers. A key distinction, however, is that confidentiality of the confessional is nonnegotiable under canon law, and the breaking of that seal is punishable by excommunication — being cut off from the church.

Read more: https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/will-not-sit-idly-by-doj-sues-to-prevent-catholic-priests-from-violating-secrecy-of-confessional-by-having-to-report-child-abuse/

Full headline: 'Will not sit idly by': DOJ sues to prevent Catholic priests from violating secrecy of confessional by having to report child abuse

63 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

'Will not sit idly by': DOJ sues to prevent Catholic priests from violating secrecy of confessional by having to report [View all] BumRushDaShow Jun 23 OP

I should think a priest should want to report that . Tell the person confessing that he wont keep that. Srkdqltr Jun 23 #1

That's not how it works iemanja Jun 23 #3

So, you are ok DiverDave Jun 23 #6

The seal of the confession is sacrosanct. TomSlick Jun 23 #9

12 years of Catholic school here Retrograde Jun 23 #12

What Bondi and the Trump admin are doing is ensuring that the Epstein's of the world are a little safer. Jit423 Jun 24 #29

Thank you. WinstonSmith4740 Jun 24 #42

This former Catholic nun, a survivor of child sexual abuse by a priest, disagrees. pnwmom Jun 23 #19

"on pain of his soul".....what nonsense. AZ8theist Jun 23 #21

This is how the Catholic Church became a hotbed of child rape and sexual assaults. Irish_Dem Jun 24 #25

So people won't confess it. malthaussen Jun 23 #10

There are 2 people involved in sex abuse. The abusive person and the victim. pnwmom Jun 23 #20

Oh, I'll be more DiverDave Jun 24 #24

If he knew it Jilly_in_VA Jun 24 #44

You're ignoring the prior point. malthaussen Jun 24 #56

It doesn't matter if I'm okay with it iemanja Jun 23 #11

Radical priests believe only God can decide who should be punished, giving them permission to decide for themselves Martin68 Jun 24 #43

You should think wrong... DenaliDemocrat Jun 24 #62

Yet, the ancient and common law idea that a church is a "sanctuary" is out the door harumph Jun 23 #2

That remains to be seen. Ms. Toad Jun 23 #5

Good, but the point is DOJ doesn't hold to that particular sanctity of the church LymphocyteLover Jun 24 #31

There is currently an injunction, barring ICE action in churches. Ms. Toad Jun 24 #33

I hope so. My point is DOJ is being very hypocritical. LymphocyteLover Jun 24 #45

Clubhouse rules, can't break a pinky-swear JoseBalow Jun 23 #4

yup that's pretty much it Skittles Jun 23 #15

Is it really a surprise that Crumb The 1st and his moniss Jun 23 #7

since those folk are usually conservative Skittles Jun 23 #16

Sick and tired of these fascist fuckwits using freedom of religion as a get-out of jail free card for their actions and Karasu Jun 23 #8

Yes, and only if that "freedom of religion" encapsulates slightlv Jun 23 #14

Priests are really caught in the middle leftyladyfrommo Jun 23 #13

You're only looking at it from the perspective of the priest hearing the confession of the ABUSER. pnwmom Jun 24 #23

I have no answers. I've always thought that leftyladyfrommo Jun 24 #30

religious silliness KG Jun 23 #17

Yeah, they've got the Catholic vote sewed up with antiabortion and bullshit like this. Who cares about poverty, capital Martin68 Jun 23 #18

The seal of confession, and child abuse. The most and second most sacrosant things within the church. Lancero Jun 23 #22

Mortal sins kkmarie Jun 24 #26

The Catholic Church was created by Jesus, NOT man made. Jesus said "I," not someone else. ancianita Jun 24 #47

I used to broad of a brush kkmarie Jun 24 #48

Until you give examples, you still are. ancianita Jun 24 #49

The one I used in my original post kkmarie Jun 24 #51

When one is a member of the Catholic Church, one can't use one's God given free will to assert their own ancianita Jun 24 #53

Then why does the church keep paying big money? dpibel Jun 24 #52

Links? ancianita Jun 24 #54

You cannot be serious dpibel Jun 24 #59

Just a normal question, if you take it as fair. It's a common ask. ancianita Jun 24 #60

Recognizing the futility of disputing with a true believer... dpibel Jun 24 #61

I understand our differences. As a decades long Four Horsemen atheist I too ancianita Jun 24 #63

This just shows the power of the Catholic church. Haggard Celine Jun 24 #27

They will let evangelical christians do it. travelingthrulife Jun 24 #38

Supreme Court oberle Jun 24 #40

Supreme Court oberle Jun 24 #41

The Catholic Church also has a special relationship with God. The facts about its policies: ancianita Jun 24 #50

"Sit idly by" is exactly what Bondi wants the Catholic Church to do about child abuse. nt SunSeeker Jun 24 #28

So, DOJ is protecting pedophiles. Got it. LymphocyteLover Jun 24 #32

I know. For an instant there I thought Trump and company were doing a decent thing. travelingthrulife Jun 24 #37

The larger question is should confession of a crime be protected? dlk Jun 24 #34

In terms of civil society, no interest is served. malthaussen Jun 24 #57

The priesthood has much to atone for dlk Jun 24 #58

I am heartfully sorry that there is religion. Can I have an "amen". twodogsbarking Jun 24 #35

LOL. Of course, child abuse...wouldn't want anyone to know about those perps since most are conservatives. travelingthrulife Jun 24 #36

Singling out clergy, but not other types of privileged communications. onenote Jun 24 #39

OK IF the law explicitly states that official confessions are subject to state law. OUTSIDE the confessional, however, ancianita Jun 24 #46

Reason for this, republianmushroom Jun 24 #55