"The Catholic bishops in Spokane and Seattle have told parishioners they will not fully comply with a new Washington law that requires clergy to report sexual abuse to police, similar to teachers, police officers and other professionals. Catholic leaders say that priests who hear confessions are obligated to keep those confessions secret, but that they are supportive of the rule outside of the Catholic sacrament of confession.

The U.S. Department of Justice announced this week that it has opened an investigation into the law, alleging that it 'appears on its face to violate the First Amendment.'

In separate statements, Thomas Daly, bishop of Spokane, said 'shepherds, bishops and priests, are committed to keeping the seal of confession – even to the point of going to jail,' and Archbishop Paul Etienne of Seattle said those who break the seal of confession face excommunication from the church."

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2025/may/07/spokane-and-seattle-bishops-say-they-wont-comply-w/
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Personally, I think that the priests should tell their parishioners not to come to them for forgiveness until they have turned themselves into the police.

Part of the repentance process is squaring yourself with the law.
Therefore as a bishop or stake president I would be doing you a favor by reporting to the law. And I wouldn't even have to call the legal help line for that.

Indulgences can cover a multitude of sins, or so it seems.

The parts of the sacrament of Reconciliation :

Contrition: A sincere sorrow for having offended God, and a firm resolve not to repeat our sin.

Confession: Confronting our sins in a profound way to God by speaking them aloud to the priest.

Penance: An important part of our healing is the penance the priest gives us in reparation for our sins.

Absolution: The priest speaks the words by which we are reconciled to God and are absolved from our sins.

To me the priest could require the person to report their action to the civil authorities as part of the Penance. If they don't then the persons confession isn't complete and their sins aren't forgiven.

No organization seems moral to me that would allow a loophole of complicit involvement in committing a crime against people so egregious.

Their church is effectively putting them in an abusive situation where they can know of heinous crimes without recourse to help from the larger society.

If an abuser wants to do something confession I think is the least helpful.

Yeah- but already I'm sure Kirton McConkie is preparing briefs challenging the ruling. I will take bets. Loser buys dinner.

slskipper Wrote:
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> Yeah- but already I'm sure Kirton McConkie is
> preparing briefs challenging the ruling. I will
> take bets. Loser buys dinner.
"Ruling" or a new statute? BIG DIFFERENCE!!

So they will make it a case of religious liberty.