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Judge blocks Washington requirement for priests to report child abuse disclosed in confession
(washingtonstatestandard.com)
this post was submitted on 19 Jul 2025
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I get that confession is sort of a sacred and private thing, but I'm a firm believer any priest who refuses to report child abuse because of privacy should start repenting immediately.
Kind of a situation where God asks you why you didn't report the child being abused in order to save them and you try to weasel your way out by telling him that your sacred vow prevented you. Only for God to cut you off mid sentence and ask in a more firm tone why you didn't report the child being abused.
pulls lever opening trap door
Yes yes, that sounds good, but think for a few more minutes.
If the secrecy is legally disallowed, no one will confess it. Which is better: never hearing about it, or giving the priest the chance to intervene and report on their own.