Catholic Bishops Vow To Resist Blue State Law Intruding On 'sacred' Trust: 'obey God Rather Than Men'

The Catholic bishops of Washington state are resisting a caller rule signed by Democratic Governor Bob Ferguson that they opportunity would break nan seal of confession, which would consequence successful excommunication for immoderate leader who complies.

Spokane, Washington, Bishop Thomas Daly released a connection successful consequence to nan rule successful which he said that he and his priests "are committed to keeping nan seal of confession – moreover to nan constituent of going to jail."

The caller law, signed past week by Democratic Gov. Bob Ferguson, who is Catholic, added "members of nan clergy" to a database of professionals who are required to study accusation that relates to kid maltreatment aliases neglect to rule enforcement, and nan measurement does not supply an objection for accusation offered astatine a confessional. The rule is group to spell into effect connected July 26.

A cardinal tenet of nan Catholic sacrament of confession is that priests are bound by an absolute seal of confidentiality, an responsibility that requires them to support thing learned successful confession a secret. Violating this tenet results successful what is called "excommunication," which cuts a personification disconnected from nan religion and eternal life, according to Catholic teaching. 

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The Catholic bishops of Washington authorities are resisting a caller rule signed by Democratic Governor Bob Ferguson that they opportunity would break nan seal of confession, which would consequence successful excommunication for immoderate leader who complies. (Chona Kasinger/Bloomberg via Getty Images and iStock)

While Daly said that his diocese has a zero-tolerance argumentation regarding kid intersexual maltreatment and that nan religion would "do everything wrong our powerfulness to support your children safe," he said nan "Sacrament of Penance is ineffable and will stay that measurement successful nan Diocese of Spokane."

Seattle Archbishop Paul Etienne framed nan rumor arsenic a mobility of whether nan clergy is "answerable to God aliases state."

He quoted a scripture transition that reads, "We must obey God alternatively than men."

"This is our stance now successful nan look of this caller law. Catholic clergy whitethorn not break nan seal of confession – aliases they will beryllium excommunicated from nan Church," said Etienne, adding: "All Catholics must cognize and beryllium assured that their confessions stay sacred, secure, confidential and protected by nan rule of nan Church."

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Democrat Bob Ferguon won nan 2024 Washington authorities governor's race, defeating Republican challenger Dave Reichert. (Getty Images)

Etienne said that nan rule cuts to nan bosom of nan First Amendment’s prohibition connected nan authorities either establishing aliases prohibiting nan free workout of a religion.

"Once nan authorities asserts nan correct to dictate belief practices and coerce accusation obtained wrong this sacrament – privileged connection – wherever is nan statement drawn betwixt Church and state? What other whitethorn nan authorities now request nan correct to know? Which different belief practices will it effort to legislate?" asked nan archbishop.

On Monday, nan U.S. Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division opened an investigation into nan rule for imaginable violations of nan First Amendment's religious protections.

A connection by nan section said that nan caller rule "singles retired ‘members of nan clergy’ arsenic nan only ‘supervisors’ who whitethorn not trust connected applicable ineligible privileges, including belief confessions, arsenic a defense to mandatory reporting."

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Archbishop Paul Etienne is nan starring Catholic cleric for nan metropolis of Seattle. (Reuters/Chris Helgren)

"The rule appears to azygous retired clergy arsenic not entitled to asseverate applicable privileges, arsenic compared to different reporting professionals," said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon of nan Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.

"We return this matter very earnestly and look guardant to Washington State’s practice pinch our investigation," said Dhillon.

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Bishop Joseph Tyson of Yakima, Washington, posted connected Facebook that he was grateful for nan Justice Department’s investigation, saying that nan bishops’ attempts to meet pinch nan politician astir nan rule had gone unanswered.

"I recognize that galore whitethorn disagree but successful a measurement that parallels lawyer customer privilege, nan seal of confession allows nan penitent to travel to grips pinch civilized accountability and culpability," said Tyson. "We want to dream and believe that nan bosom of an offender would beryllium truthful moved by nan mercy of God and nan guidance of nan skilled clergy that it would needfully lead to an brushwood beyond nan sacramental seal pinch rule enforcement."

Ferguson did not respond to Fox News Digital’s petition for comment.

Fox News Digital's Landon Mion contributed to this article.