Doj Investigating ‘anti-catholic’ Washington State Law Requiring Clergy To Report Child Abuse

A rule signed by Washington State Gov. Bob Ferguson past week that requires members of nan clergy to study confessions of kid maltreatment aliases neglect is nether scrutiny, arsenic nan U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has opened a civilian authorities investigation into whether nan rule violates nan First Amendment.

The Evergreen State’s caller rule adds "members of nan clergy" to a database of professionals who are required to study accusation obtained done confessionals that subordinate to kid maltreatment aliases neglect, to rule enforcement aliases different authorities authorities.

The rule provides nary objection for nan absolute seal of confidentiality, which applies to Catholic Priests, according to nan DOJ.

The DOJ besides said nan state’s caller law singles retired "members of nan clergy" arsenic nan only "supervisors" who are incapable to trust connected applicable ineligible privileges specified arsenic belief confessions, arsenic a logic to not study nan claims arsenic mandated.

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Washington State signed a rule requiring clergy members to study kid maltreatment aliases neglect learned done confession. (iStock)

The DOJ’s Civil Rights Division is investigating whether Washington state’s rule violates religious protections provided nether nan First Amendment.

The First Amendment states, "Congress shall make nary rule respecting an constitution of religion, aliases prohibiting nan free workout thereof; aliases abridging nan state of speech, aliases of nan press; aliases nan correct of nan group peaceably to assemble, and to petition nan Government for a redress of grievances."

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Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson signed a measure into rule past week, requiring members of nan clergy to study kid maltreatment and neglect learned done confessional settings, offering nary exemptions. (Getty Images)

"SB 5375 demands that Catholic Priests break their profoundly held religion successful bid to obey nan law, a usurpation of nan Constitution and a breach of nan free workout of belief cannot guidelines nether our Constitutional strategy of government," Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of nan Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division said. "Worse, nan rule appears to azygous retired clergy arsenic not entitled to asseverate applicable privileges, arsenic compared to different reporting professionals. We return this matter very earnestly and look guardant to Washington State’s practice pinch our investigation."

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Ferguson, who signed nan measure into rule connected May 2, did not instantly respond to Fox News Digital’s petition for remark connected nan matter.

FOX 13 successful Seattle reported that nan measure will spell into effect connected July 26.

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The position besides reported that a national study shows that Washington is 1 of conscionable 5 states that does not explicitly aliases implicitly require clergy to study suspected kid maltreatment aliases neglect. It added that astir states exempt accusation learned done confession from mandatory reporting, though Washington joins conscionable a fistful of states, including West Virginia and New Hampshire, which do not supply specified exemptions.