Posted on 06/24/2025 3:07:29 PM PDT by Angelino97
The state of Washington is being sued by the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Civil Rights Division for violating the First Amendment right of priests to maintain confidentiality in the Confessional. The law, which was signed by Gov. Bob Ferguson on May 2, is due to go into effect July 27.
The Catholic League was the first lay Catholic organization in the nation to write to Washington legislators about this issue.
On February 10, I raised the following question to the lawmakers, “What broke?” I specifically asked, “where is the evidence that child molesters—in any state—report their crimes to priests in the confessional? We have been studying this issue for decades but we can’t name a single instance where this has happened. If any lawmaker has evidence to the contrary, you have an obligation to make it public.” Not surprisingly, no one did.
Next to weigh in was the DOJ. On May 5, Harmeet K. Dhillon, Assistant Attorney General, Civil Rights Division, and Michael E. Gates, Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Civil Rights Division, wrote to Gov. Ferguson putting him on notice that they are taking this issue seriously. To that end, they asked for selected documents. We thanked the Trump team for their decision the next day.
On May 20, I wrote to Sen. Noel Frame, the most vocal supporter of this attack on the Sacrament of Reconciliation. My main complaint was the encroachment of the state on religion, as witnessed by her comment that the Catholic Church should change Canon law teachings on the priest-penitent privilege. I returned the favor by saying Washington’s law legalizing doctor-assisted suicide should be changed to mirror the Canon law position.
In its lawsuit against Washington, the DOJ argues that the bill “unconstitutionally forces Catholic priests in Washington to choose between their obligations to the Catholic Church and their penitents or face criminal consequences, while treating the priest-penitent privilege differently than other well-settled privileges.”
This line of argument is persuasive. It has long been accepted as a legal privilege to guard the confidentiality of attorney-client, doctor-patient and psychotherapist-patient, as well as the privilege afforded the priest and his penitent. Indeed, the latter has been accepted law since it was first broached in People v. Phillips in New York, an 1813 ruling that set the table for subsequent decisions. The Supreme Court cited the priest-penitent privilege in both the Watergate tapes case United States v. Nixon (1974), and in Trammel v. United States (1980).
We commend the Trump administration for standing up for the rights of priests.
Get back to me when Planned Parenthood reports 14 year old getting abortions.
This is a small “c” catholic issue: Also affects Orthodox Christians, Anglicans, and some Lutherans.
USCCB: Not a direct party in court, but actively reinforcing the cause.
Active plaintiffs:
• Washington state Catholic bishops
• Orthodox Christian coalition
• U.S. DOJ
This is nothing but destructive. They’re not interested in whatever crap they pretend this would fix.
Priests must have protection in this matter. The penitent must have privacy in this. This affects everyone not the sleazy molester who wouldn’t go to confession any sooner than any New York suburban housewife who hasn’t been to confession in 30 years
“It has long been accepted as a legal privilege to guard the confidentiality of ... the privilege afforded the priest and his penitent.”
But there is no privilege between a Protestant minister and parishioner. Non-Catholic clergy can narc on a member because sins are confessed directly to God without any middle man. The law recognizes this.
Of course there is if the Pastor wants to stay employed.
So Trump is owned by the POPE now?
But everyone else is saying it’s Thuh JOOZ! and NuttyYahoo and AIPAC!
This would cause some cognitive dissonance in the minds of those who hate jews, Israel, our alliance with the country and spew their hatred here and wherever they can on the web (generally anonymously); it would, if they had more than two functioning prefrontal cortical cells operating at any given time.
More than the “sanctity” of the attorney-client privilege which is STILL held as sacrosanct, inviolable, SFAIK - lawyers nearly always protect their own, more than doctors or priests - the sanctity of the confessional, man speaking to God with a Father intercessor (totally unnecessary as I’ve learned as a born again christian but still) is truly OUT bounds by 1st amendment instruction.
The legislature and/or Governor should be hung by their heels in the public square and be spat upon by any and all passersby until they’re unconscious. At least.
“Of course there is if the Pastor wants to stay employed.”
In a trial, Pastor can be subpoenaed, put under oath, and forced to testify truthfully. You’re right, though; the congregation could eventually vote him out.
Lesson: Don’t tell your preacher anything; keep it between you and God.
Thank You Mr.President from the bottom of my sinful ROMAN Catholic Heart. ;)
+1
GOOD GRIEF!! Trump is NOT owned by Trump!! How stupid.
” “where is the evidence that child molesters—in any state—report their crimes to priests in the confessional?”
This is an idiotic statement. I’m not catholic but I believe it comes right after forgive me father for I have sinned. That’s where you find it and if anyone, to include a priest, that doesn’t report a child molestation, a murder, a rape, human trafficking or any crime of this nature, then they should be considered accessory after the fact. You don’t need a confessional booth to ask forgiveness or reconciliation for a crime. And if a priest absolves them of the crime doesn’t mean they don’t have to be prosecuted. Crimes like these are considered an abomination. In the Bible, certain actions and behaviors are described as abominations, which are considered deeply offensive and detestable to God. These include things like idolatry, sexual immorality (including homosexuality, incest, and adultery), and deceitfulness.
wy69
But these people are evil enough that they might fabricate a hoax--have someone confess to a crime that never happened and then arrest the priest for not reporting it.
I’m not Catholic, but wouldn’t a priest be morally obligated to report heinous crimes to the authorities?
Don't have the ethics my pastors have had. We have private Confession/Absolution Pastor never talks even when he has participated. It is NUNYA business nor the gov't.
A law professor once told me the law recognizes the "clergy privilege" for all religions, Protestants, Muslims, Jews, everyone.
So this law professor contradicts your statement.
Throughout the history, there were saints tortured and killed, for refusing to reveal confessional secrets!
No. The seal of the Confessional is inviolate, and priests can be excommunicated for breaching it. There aren't any exceptions for crimes.
But priests also can withhold absolution. So a priest could say to the person "I can't absolve you unless you report yourself to the police."
Too many a Protestant minister attempts to assert that any conversation, any observation during a home visitation is “privileged”.
If you want to assert “confidentiality” have a proper Sacramentology.
But everyone else is saying it’s Thuh JOOZ! and NuttyYahoo and AIPAC!
No one is saying that.
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