this post was submitted on 09 May 2025
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The Catholic Church has issued a warning to its clergy in Washington state: Any priest who complies with a new law requiring the reporting of child abuse confessions to authorities will be excommunicated.

https://www.newsweek.com/catholic-church-excommunicate-priests-following-new-us-state-law-2069039

(page 2) 50 comments
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[–] Buelldozer@lemmy.today 10 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

We also need a law that requires news sources to provide links to law(s) being discussed in their articles!

If anyone would like to read this law here you go.

[–] theotherbelow@lemmynsfw.com 8 points 7 hours ago (4 children)

Excommunicated vs Imprisoned. The choice is yours.

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[–] Kolanaki@pawb.social 8 points 4 hours ago

Geez... I never thought I would see so much support for religious bullshit on this site. I'd rather see fewer children harmed than preserve the "sanctity" of confession, and every excommunicated priest is a priest with actual integrity.

[–] finitebanjo@lemmy.world 6 points 6 hours ago* (last edited 6 hours ago) (1 children)

Mixed feelings

Obviously the clergy have absolute values which they believe come from god, so obviously they're not equipped to make exceptions such as this as individuals. You would have to appeal the to pope and cardinals directly to change the rules.

How does the state intend to enforce this? Is there a priest registry in washington state, and does it account for all recognized religions for tax purposes? Are they going to take away peoples license to preach?

[–] Dragonstaff@leminal.space 8 points 5 hours ago (3 children)

During the investigation of child sexual abuse, if the perpetrator is a Catholic, they'll ask if the abuser confessed. If so, the priest is liable to be prosecuted.

Honestly, my biggest problem with the law is how unlikely it is to ever be prosecuted. Proving that an abuser confessed would be impossible. They are infringing on the First Amendment and ensuring that no abuser ever talks to their priest, but in practice priests probably won't follow the law and if they don't the state is unlikely to actually enforce the law.

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[–] hildegarde@lemmy.blahaj.zone 6 points 1 day ago

It means the law works.

If they truly believe in their faith, then they will serve their sentences faithfully, as a show if their devotion to their god.

Protecting child abuse should have a cost regardless of the motivation.

[–] Quacksalber@sh.itjust.works 6 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (3 children)

requiring the reporting of child abuse confessions to authorities

So they aren't blatantly evil at least. Confessions remaining private is the foundation of how they work. Either way, the church loses on this one.

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[–] aaron@infosec.pub 6 points 6 hours ago

The Catholic church is hardly going to allow priests to be forced to go to the police and admit crimes.

[–] Grizzlyboy@lemm.ee 5 points 1 day ago

Pedophiles protecting pedophiles? Who would have thunk!

[–] NocturnalMorning@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago

Well, glad I'm not catholic. Fuck these assholes

[–] LePoisson@lemmy.world 4 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

Bro it's breaking Catholic canon. They can change that shit that's what the Pope is for.

Maybe God would be chill with revealing child abuse even if it comes from confession. Just carve a little exception out there. Crazy that the clergy would rather protect pedophiles than reinterpreting some doctrine.

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[–] Showroom7561@lemmy.ca 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Any priest who complies with a new law requiring the reporting of child abuse confessions to authorities will be excommunicated.

Oh, are we going to play that game?

Why does the Catholic Church have to be so fucking evil?

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[–] PrincessLeiasCat@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 day ago (3 children)
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