Rantz: Catholic Church tells priests to ignore Democrats’ attempt to destroy confession

The Catholic Church is pushing back against a new law that was rushed through the legislature by Democrats over concerns of clergy, requiring priests to break the confidentiality of confession. Priests will be excommunicated by the Catholic Church if they follow the law.

Under Senate Bill 5375, Washington Democrats ripped out the “clergy privilege” exemption in Washington’s child-abuse reporting laws. It amends the law to require any “member of the clergy” (priests, rabbis, imams, elders, etc.) to be a mandatory reporter, even if it came out of a confessional. They even redefined “member of the clergy” to sweep in every spiritual leader under the sun, so nobody’s using “privilege” to keep quiet on child-safety issues.

Governor Bob Ferguson signed the bill on May 2. The Archdiocese of Seattle said a meeting requested by the Bishops of the State of Washington with the governor was ignored.

“This new law singles out religion and is clearly both government overreach and a double standard. The line between Church and state has been crossed and needs to be walked back. People of every religion in the State of Washington and beyond should be alarmed by this overreach of our Legislature and Governor,” Archbishop Paul D. Etienne of the Archdiocese of Seattle said in a statement.

The Archbishop warned that clergy face excommunication for complying with the law, arguing that, “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).

“This is our stance now in the face of this new law. Catholic clergy may not violate the seal of confession—or they will be excommunicated from the Church. All Catholics must know and be assured that their confessions remain sacred, secure, confidential, and protected by the law of the Church,” Etienne wrote.

Washington Democrats want to lessen religious protections

During the debate, Washington Democrats ignored the concerns of the clergy, arguing that religious liberties should not extend in cases where a child’s safety is on the line. But Washington Democrats don’t actually believe this. They’re merely continuing to disrupt religious liberties, which is precisely why they’re so inconsistent.

Washington Democrats argue that government agencies, including law enforcement, should not have to work with the federal government to enforce immigration laws. Why? They argue that it would prevent illegal immigrants from coming forward to report crimes to local law enforcement, making communities less safe.

Why don’t Washington Democrats extend the same logic when it comes to confession?

Suddenly, Democrats care about kids?

Someone confessing to abuse against children could lead to intervention by the priest hearing the confession. That someone admitted to the crimes to a priest offers a clear opportunity for intervention by the church to help stop the abuse.

Wouldn’t the new law serve as a disincentive to confess the crime, which would allow the abuse to continue? Who, exactly, does this serve? Everyone loses.

And suddenly, Washington Democrats care about the well-being of children? These are gender extremists who believe in surgical interventions for minors who have been convinced to be born in the wrong body. Similar to how they want to break up confessions with a priest, these very same Democrats seek to break up the bond between a child and their parents, mandating school officials keep secrets from parents on issues around gender identity.

Valid concerns, bad faith Democrats

There are valid concerns over confessional keeping child abuse a secret. Our natural instinct should be to do what we can to protect the child.

There are also valid concerns over religious liberties. Our natural instinct should be to push back against what Democrats hope to do to any constitutional right they disagree with.

It seems likely that someone confessing to abusing a child would be less likely to continue that abuse and is looking to religion for help. A priest—or rabbi, imam, etc.—can help end the abuse. And there are ways for someone to pay a legal price for the abuse, without violating the Sacrament of Reconciliation, including convincing the abuser to report himself or herself.

It was clear during the debate, and the subsequent snub of the Bishops of the State of Washington, that Democrats were unwilling and disinterested in finding a way to protect kids and religious liberties. We’d be fools to believe it was due to their commitment to children instead of their disdain for religion.

Attorney General Nick Brown’s office did not respond to a request for comment.

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