A federal judge has temporarily stopped Washington state from enforcing a controversial law that would have forced priests to report child abuse confessed during sacrament. The ruling protects religious freedom and may signal the law’s eventual collapse.
Key Facts:
- U.S. District Chief Judge David Estudillo blocked Washington’s SB 5375 from taking effect on July 27.
- The law would have punished clergy with fines and jail for not reporting abuse revealed in confessions.
- Judge Estudillo said the law likely violated the First Amendment’s religious freedom protections.
- The Catholic Church, represented by Becket and others, sued to stop the law in May.
- The U.S. Justice Department also supported the church’s case against the state.
The Rest of The Story:
Judge David Estudillo, a Biden appointee based in Tacoma, issued a ruling Friday pausing a new law set to force Catholic priests to report child abuse even when confessed during the sacrament of reconciliation.
The law, signed by Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson, would have fined priests $5,000 and sentenced them to nearly a year in jail if they failed to disclose abuse or neglect heard in confessional.
In his 25-page decision, Estudillo stated the law likely violated the First Amendment, which guarantees religious freedom.
He noted that many other states have found a way to protect children without infringing on religious practices, writing, “The State arguably could have chosen a less restrictive means… as approximately 25 other states have done.”
The lawsuit was filed by three bishops from Washington state, including Archbishop Paul Etienne, and was supported by religious liberty groups Becket, First Liberty Institute, and WilmerHale.
On June 23, the U.S. Department of Justice stepped in, backing the bishops.
“Laws that explicitly target religious practices such as the Sacrament of Confession in the Catholic Church have no place in our society,” Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon said.
Meanwhile, CatholicVote President Kelsey Reinhardt added, “No American should face criminal penalties for living out their faith.”
Forcing clergy to violate core tenets of their faith is not only unconscionable, it’s unconstitutional. The federal court agreed, issuing a preliminary injunction that protects priests from this anti-religious law.
— AAGHarmeetDhillon (@AAGDhillon) July 18, 2025
Commentary:
No decent person doubts that child abuse is one of the most vile crimes imaginable.
The full force of the law should be brought down on any predator who harms a child.
That’s not up for debate. What is up for debate is how far the state should go in intruding into religious practices that have existed for centuries.
The Catholic confessional is not a loophole for criminals — it is a sacred rite.
The Church treats it with the utmost seriousness, even threatening excommunication for priests who break the seal.
That kind of commitment to confidentiality reflects a belief system held by millions, passed down across generations.
I’m not Catholic, and I admit I don’t fully understand the theology behind confession.
But I do understand religious liberty. It’s the bedrock of this country.
If the state can force a priest to violate one sacred oath today, it might force a pastor, rabbi, or imam to break another tomorrow.
Judge Estudillo, though appointed by a Democratic president, showed real wisdom here.
He recognized that religious freedom isn’t just an idea — it’s a constitutional guarantee.
His ruling reflects that understanding and deserves credit.
If Washington’s leaders truly care about child safety, they can find solutions that don’t crush the First Amendment.
Many other states have done exactly that by creating limited exceptions or crafting better laws.
Pushing this case further will only waste taxpayer money and deepen the divide between state authority and religious institutions.
Rather than doubling down on a losing argument, lawmakers should revisit the bill and look for smarter, lawful ways to meet their goals.
The Bottom Line:
A federal judge halted a Washington state law that would have forced priests to break the sacred seal of confession to report abuse.
The court ruled the law likely violated religious freedom under the First Amendment.
While protecting children is vital, doing so must not come at the cost of religious liberty.
The ruling affirms a basic American principle: faith is not subject to the state.
Read Next
– Trump Weighs Terror Designation Over Violent Anti-ICE Protests
– Despite Epstein Uproar New Poll Shows Trump Support Has RISEN Among Republicans
– Fed Chairman Powell Says He Won’t Resign Or Be Pressured Into Action Under Any Circumstances
– President Trump Cancels ALL Federal Funding For California’s Boondoggle ‘Bullet Train to Nowhere’
– Biden-Era Loophole on Indirect Abortion Funding for Unaccompanied Minors Closed by Trump Team
