Washington state agrees not to require clergy to report child abuse disclosed in confession

OLYMPIA Wash. (KPTV) - The state of Washington, clergy members and the U.S. Department of Justice have reached an agreement after the DOJ and clergy sued over a new state law making priests and pastors mandatory reporters of child abuse, the state announced Friday.

Mandatory reporters are required to tell authorities if they suspect that a child is being abused or neglected, and include teachers, childcare workers, medical providers and more.

Washington Governor Bob Ferguson signed Senate Bill 5375 into law on May 9, which added clergy to the list, and required them to report suspected abuse even if it’s from information shared during confession.

The DOJ filed a challenge to the law on June 23 , saying SB 5375 violates the free exercise of religion for all Catholics by requiring pries