Washington state bill on clergy reporting heads to governor

Legislation requiring clergy to report child abuse or neglect in Washington state has been approved by the Legislature and is now headed to Governor Bob Ferguson’s desk for his signature. The bill, sponsored by Democratic Senator Noel Frame from Seattle, aims to make clergy mandatory reporters without exceptions for sacramental confessions. Some have voiced concerns over conflicts this might cause with clergy-penitent privilege, particularly among Catholic priests.

Senator Frame stated in February, “It’s long past time that the Legislature steps up, closes this loophole, and protects children.” She added, “This bill is about the separation of church and state. This bill is about the state’s secular responsibility to the public interest of protecting children.”

The Washington State Catholic Conference, the public policy arm of the state’s Catholic bishops, opposed the bill due to the lack of an exemption for confidential clergy-penitent communications. They urged lawmakers to reject the bill unless amended to protect these communications. The conference noted that “The majority of states that include clergy as mandatory reporters include an exemption for confidential communications, demonstrating that the states’ interests in child protection can be achieved without violating the right to free exercise of religion."

Priests are bound by the Catechism of the Catholic Church that prevents them from divulging information shared during confessions. This has been at odds with the proposed legislation, causing friction between the need to report abuse and religious doctrines. The legislation follows failed attempts in the Legislature over the past two years due to disagreements over exceptions.

Governor Ferguson’s office has not provided a comment on his intended action regarding the bill.

Kate Scanlon, a national reporter for OSV News, provided details on this development. Follow her on X @kgscanlon.