A few years back, while I was serving as an auxiliary bishop in Los Angeles, I made a point during a hierarchical conference in California. We were discussing various legislative actions, including a proposal that would require priests to break the seal of confession when it came to cases of child sexual abuse. I said something along the lines of, “We really need to draw a line here.” And we did.
Bishops across the country rallied people to push back against this law. Good Catholics from California voiced their concerns, inundating Sacramento with letters and petitions to defend their rights. The lawmakers, feeling the pressure, backed off.
That was a win, certainly an important one. But, it’s worth noting that similar laws are already in place in six other states. Most recently, Washington has mandated that priests must violate this trust, even though medical professionals are exempt from the same rules.
Fortunately, bishops in Washington have taken legal action to block this law, and even the Department of Justice has joined forces with them. It seems like a crisis moment, a situation where we really must take a stand again.
We can’t overlook that the intent behind these legislative actions is rooted in a genuine concern for the safety of children—a concern that Catholics certainly share. The Catholic Church, since 2002 with the implementation of the Dallas Agreement, has made significant strides in protecting youth from sexual predation. All bishops, priests, deacons, and lay leaders are mandatory reporters of any allegations regarding child abuse. Moreover, they must undergo specific training to address these issues. If anyone doubts my commitment to eliminating sexual misconduct within the church, I invite them to check my book, *Letters to the Church in Suffering*.
Now, it’s essential to recognize that any requirement to report must not infringe upon the confidentiality of confession for Catholics. We believe that when someone seeks forgiveness through the sacrament of reconciliation, they’re opening themselves to Christ, receiving healing on a profound level.
From a spiritual standpoint, preserving the privacy of confessions is crucial. If a confessor had even the slightest fear that their words could be disclosed, they would likely hesitate to seek out that source of grace, thus undermining the sacrament’s integrity. Breaking the seal of confession can lead to the automatic excommunication of the priest involved.
This creates a grave dilemma for priests in Washington: obey the law and risk excommunication or remain true to their faith at the risk of imprisonment. The church has certainly weathered severe persecution in its history, but American Catholic priests shouldn’t have to endure this kind of threat.
It’s vital to underscore that there are clear principles within the First Amendment of the Constitution that protect religion. The First Clause states that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.” This means we should not replicate the state church model found in 18th-century England.
The second, less emphasized clause, ensures that Congress does not interfere with the “free exercise” of religion. Despite not being able to endorse any specific church, we should all be able to express our beliefs openly in public. This goes beyond just the ability to worship—it encompasses the right to practice faith freely in civic spaces.
Now, there’s a significant issue here. These laws directly infringe upon the sanctity of confessions, violating charges on both the right of priests to hear confessions appropriately and the rights of Catholics to participate in this sacrament without fear.
For this reason, I believe not only Catholics in Washington, but all faithful Americans should oppose such laws. This isn’t just an attack on the Catholic Church; it sets a precedent that could soon threaten the free exercise of other faiths as well.
So to my Catholic brothers and sisters, and to all my fellow Americans, I say: take a stand. Draw your line in the sand and let’s resist.
