A Washington state law that would have required Catholic priests to report “abuse or neglect” divulged during confession has been blocked by a federal court, The Olympian newspaper reported.
The new law flies in the face of traditionally recognized priest-penitent privilege, wherein information revealed during sacred confession for forgiveness of sins is to remain secret outside the confessional.
Scheduled to take effect July 27, the law set penalties of “up to 364 days in jail, a $5,000 fine and potential liability for priests who failed to comply with the state’s reporting policies,” the newspaper reported.
The district court ruling was filed July 18.
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