Catholic bishops in Washington state sue governor over new mandatory reporting law

OLYMPIA, Wash. — The Catholic Church in Washington including the Bishop of Spokane Thomas Daly are suing the state over a recently passed mandated reporter law.

Washington state’s new law would add “members of clergy” to the list of other professionals that are required to report suspected child abuse even during confession. It would go into effect July 26.

The Department of Justice recently opened a first amendment violation investigation into this new law.

In its lawsuit, the Catholic Church alleges the state is discriminating against it and forces priests to choose between “eternal damnation” or criminal punishment.

The church says it has already made reporting policies that went beyond what Washington law had required previously.

In addition, the church says confession is protected by “sacramental seal” and forbids a priest from disclosing what is said.

The lawsuit says this new law violates the first and fourteenth amendments.