Source link : https://bq3anews.com/washington-state-settles-controversy-over-kid-abuse-legislation-that-examined-the-bounds-of-priest-penitent-privilege/
For months, a Washington state invoice generated controversy over two crucial pursuits: protective kids from abuse and protective the liberty of faith.
Signed by way of the governor in Would possibly 2025, SB 5375 designated clergy as obligatory journalists, requiring them to file kid sexual abuse, bodily abuse and overlook – even though they discovered of the abuse right through a confidential sacred ceremony.
Some faiths, together with the Catholic Church and Japanese Orthodox church buildings, restrict clergy from revealing knowledge discovered thru a confession or sacrament. Within the Catholic Church, there are not any exceptions – and the penalty for disclosure is excommunication.
In mid-October, then again, Washington state introduced it will no longer put into effect the necessary reporting requirement for info discovered right through confidential rites. On Oct. 14, 2025, a federal courtroom authorized the state’s agreements with teams of Catholic and Orthodox clergy who had sued to dam that a part of the legislation, arguing it violated their non secular freedom. The U.S. Division of Justice had additionally intervened, claiming the legislation discriminates in opposition to Catholics.
Reporting rules may also be sophisticated by way of what’s referred to as “legal privilege”: the rights granted to sure other folks, comparable to spouses or legal professionals of suspects, to stay confidentiality by way of refusing to cooperate with an…
—-
Author : bq3anews
Publish date : 2025-10-29 17:29:00
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
—-
1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7 – 8