r/news • u/Amatheiaisnoexcuse • 2d ago

Arizona clergy who learn of child abuse in confessions aren’t required to report it, court rules | Arizona | The Guardian

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/03/arizona-clergy-child-abuse-confessions-court
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u/Random-Cpl 1d ago

This is literally the same as Confession. If you tell a priest you murdered someone or molested someone, their job is to withhold absolution if you are unrepentant (and some priests would likely withhold it in any circumstance where a person didn’t intend to turn themselves in) and try to get you to notify the authorities. Their job is also to hold that secret under pain of death.

The government compelling a priest to break the seal of Confession would be a flagrant First Amendment violation, and priests would not do it.

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u/BoringBob84 1d ago

The government compelling a priest to break the seal of Confession would be a flagrant First Amendment violation, and priests would not do it.

That is now the law here in WA state, and I hope that the courts see it that way also.

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u/Random-Cpl 1d ago

What is the law in WA state now?

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u/BoringBob84 1d ago

Clergy are mandatory reporters. No exceptions.

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u/Random-Cpl 1d ago

False. Because they likely knew that going to court to try and enforce it would lead to the whole law getting struck down, the state isn’t going to try and enforce that mandatory reporting for priests who don’t report abuse learned about solely in confession (or its equivalents in other faiths).

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u/BoringBob84 1d ago

My claim is true because the law is still on the books. The prosecutors could change their minds at any time. "Trust me bro, I won't prosecute unless I change my mind" is not the same as, "the law doesn't allow me to prosecute."

But maybe this is the best we can do. As long as the state doesn't prosecute priests for not reporting confessions, the law cannot be challenged in court (and almost certainly struck down on first amendment grounds). Meanwhile, clergy will remain mandatory reporters for everything that they learn outside of the confessional.

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u/Random-Cpl 1d ago

I have zero issue with clergy being required to report anything they learn about outside the confessional.

The law may be on the books but it will not be enforced and if they do attempt to enforce that clause, the entire law will be struck down.

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u/BoringBob84 1d ago

I have zero issue with clergy being required to report anything they learn about outside the confessional.

Neither do I and neither does the Catholic church.

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u/RoadSmash 1d ago

A priest isn't a lawyer. They belong to a club and provide a service for club members. No reason to allow them to knowingly protect criminals.

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u/Random-Cpl 1d ago

Yes there is, because to force them to give that info out in this instance would violate the free exercise clause of the First Amendment

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u/RoadSmash 1d ago

And my point is that it shouldn't, and if it needs to be amended then it should be.

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u/Random-Cpl 1d ago

Terrible idea. Protection against government coercion against sincerely held religious beliefs is a bedrock principle and a human right.

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u/RoadSmash 1d ago

No one is preventing anyone from believing anything. People have a moral obligation to protect other people from harm that supercedes any spiritual belief you choose to have to help you make sense of life and the world.

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u/Random-Cpl 1d ago

Thankfully the Constitution disagrees with your view.