DOJ Investigates Washington Law Signed by Gov. Ferguson Requiring Priests to Report Child Abuse Confessions Amid Church Excommunication Threat

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has launched an investigation into a new Washington state law that requires Catholic priests to report child abuse disclosures made during confession. The law, signed by Democratic Governor Bob Ferguson, mandates clergy to break the seal of confession in cases involving child neglect or abuse. The DOJ has expressed concerns that the law potentially violates the First Amendment by compromising the confidentiality of the confessional. In response, the Catholic Church has declared it will excommunicate priests who comply with the law, emphasizing the sanctity of the confessional. Washington state lawmakers have been criticized for effectively adding a punitive stage to the traditional four stages of confession—examination, confession, absolution, and penance—by introducing legal consequences for priests who maintain confidentiality. Meanwhile, in New Jersey, the Catholic diocese has announced it will no longer oppose investigations into abuse allegations. The controversy has drawn attention to broader debates about religious freedom, child protection laws, and government authority.