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Washington state's new law mandates clergy, including priests, to report child abuse disclosed in confession, prompting outrage from the Catholic Church and the Department of Justice. The Archdiocese of Seattle threatens to excommunicate compliant priests, while the DOJ launched a civil rights investigation, citing potential First Amendment violations. The law, while aiming to protect children, clashes with the Catholic Church's seal of confession, a core tenet of the faith. Experts warn that removing this confidentiality could deter individuals from seeking confession, hindering potential avenues for reporting abuse.

Prepared by Emily Rhodes and reviewed by editorial team.