The state of Washington agreed to end all efforts to enforce a new law that could have jailed or fined Catholic and Orthodox priests for refusing to violate the sacred Seal of Confession.
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The Seal of Confession stands as a central Catholic doctrine forbidding priests to reveal anything a penitent confesses during reconciliation. This sacramental seal gives believers confidence that they can confess their sins freely without fear that a priest will expose their identity or wrongdoing.
If a priest breaks that seal, the Church imposes severe penalties, including possible excommunication.
Senate Bill 5375 marked Sen. Noel Frame’s (D-36th District) latest attempt to coerce priests and religious officials into reporting penitents to law enforcement if
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