Washington state agrees not to require Catholic priests to report confessions

The state of Washington reached an agreement with Catholic officials this week not to require priests to report information that they learn in sacramental confession about suspected child abuse or neglect, ending a legal battle over a state law.

The agreement was announced Friday in a court filing, which will make permanent an injunction placed by a federal judge in July that blocked enforcement of Senate Bill 5375. Part of that bill mandated that priests report to authorities information they hear in sacramental confession if they have “reasonable cause to believe that a child has suffered abuse or neglect.”

The punishment for failing to comply with the law was up to a year in jail and a $5,000 fine. However, in the Catholic Church, information discussed

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