SB 5280 - Clergy Mandatory Reporting and Maintaining the Clergy Penitent Privilege

March 27, 2023

The Catholic bishops of Washington support the clergy reporting components of the underlying bill (SB 5280) because we already consider clergy to be mandatory reporters at all times, in every setting but with one critical exception: during the sacrament of reconciliation, also known as confession.

Testimony from Bishop Frank Schuster on SB 5280, 03-21-23