In Washington state, a lawsuit pushed by Catholic priests and the US Department of Justice, has meant Catholic priests in the state do not have to legally report child abuse learned through confession. 

This began when three catholic priests sued the state over a different law – which stated priests needed to report confessions of abuse. They argued that the law violates the First Amendment by forcing priests to break the sacramental seal of confession and face excommunication under Church law.

On July 18, 2025, U.S. District Judge David G. Estudillo granted a preliminary injunction, blocking enforcement of the law’s requirement that priests report abuse disclosed in confession.

This change to law was supported by the US Department of Justice which stated the law “deprives Catholic priests of their fundamental right to freely exercise their religious beliefs, as guaranteed under the First Amendment”.

Trump has shown time and time again that he has little regard for the safeguarding of children. Already in this term he has cut funding for investigating child sexual abuse and internet crimes against children, responding to reports of missing children, and preventing youth violence. He has pushed to define transgender rights and healthcare for under-18s as a form of “child abuse”, all the while refusing to release important documents about the crimes and associates of Jeffrey Epstein. 

SB 5375 was signed into law in May by Washington’s Democratic governor Bob Ferguson, it makes clergy mandatory reporters of child abuse, including information received during confession. Ferguson is a catholic himself. 

Although Washington state argues the law is essential for child protection, the US department of justice claims the law discriminates against clergy by removing their privileged status under the law, which has led to judges ruling to temporarily block enforcement regarding confessions, affirming that the law likely violates religious liberty protections. 

As of now, priests in Washington cannot legally be required to report child abuse disclosed during confession. However, they are still obligated to report abuse learned in other contexts.