The sacrament of confession is under attack in the State of Washington.
And by a Catholic governor, no less.
Democrat Governor Bob Ferguson has signed legislation forcing Catholic priests to report child abuse even if the information is revealed in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
We all know: To break the seal of confession is an unthinkable act for priests and incurs automatic excommunication.
Bishop Thomas Daly of Spokane and Archbishop Paul D. Etienne of Seattle have spoken out against the law, stating that the priests of Washington will maintain confidentiality for their penitents. They will even go to jail, if they must, just as the Apostles did for Jesus.
We’re in their corner 100%.
This unconstitutional, anti-Catholic law goes into effect July 27, and CatholicVote intends to do everything we can to get it struck down, including going to court.
The law is so offensive, it also got the attention of the U.S. Department of Justice.
The Trump DOJ has launched a probe into this unjust legislation. We couldn’t agree more with Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon:
“SB 5375 demands that Catholic Priests violate their deeply held faith in order to obey the law, a violation of the Constitution and a breach of the free exercise of religion cannot stand under our Constitutional system of government.”
While much of what you hear from us is about the goings on in Washington, D.C., CatholicVote keeps a finger on the pulse of everything affecting Catholics nationwide. Just as we stepped up to fight the sacrilegious stunts of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence in California and promoted the nation’s most expansive school choice law in Texas, we intend to go to the mat defending the right of Catholic priests and penitents in Washington state.
Let’s make sure all Catholics in Washington know we have their back.
Our Lady of Good Help, Patroness of Washington, pray for us!