Catholics in the state have expressed concern the House’s version of the bill could force priests to violate the civil law in order to uphold church law regarding the seal of confession.
Washington Legislature advances state mandatory reporting bill that lacks confession exception
Concerns raised over Washington state mandatory reporting bill that lacks confession exception
SB 5280, sponsored by state Sen. Noel Frame, D-Seattle, would make members of the clergy mandatory reporters, people required by law to report suspected or known instances of child abuse or neglect.
Seal of confession a topic of debate after French abuse report
Church and government leaders in France are at odds over whether priests should be required to report the abuse of minors if they learn about it in the sacrament of confession.
Accountability, transparency, due process still needed, abuse experts say
Safeguarding experts have published proposals in the “Periodica” faculty canon law journal of the Pontifical Gregorian University to help foster more analysis and wider discussion on work still needed to safeguard minors and vulnerable people in the Catholic Church.
Report abuse learned in confession or go to jail, says Australian state
New laws passed in Australia Sept. 8, means religious institutions and their members are no longer able to use the seal of the confessional as a defense or excuse in child sex abuse matters.
Prelate advises cellphones can’t be used to administer sacraments
Administering the sacrament of reconciliation via cellphone is impermissible under church teaching, said the chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Divine Worship.
Mexican president says church-state separation should be left alone
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has expressed disapproval of a proposal that would scrap some of the restrictions separating church and state, but also could have broken the seal of confession.
John Garvey: Jeremiah revisited
It is dismaying that the California Senate has so little concern for the sacrament of reconciliation. But in that regard it is not unlike most Catholics.