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Heated testimony at Senate hearing as bill would make clergy mandated reporters for child abuse; survivors press for no exemptions
Summary
Senate Bill 5375 would require members of the clergy to report suspected child abuse or neglect, removing the clergy-penitent exception in state law. Survivors and accountability advocates urged passage without exemptions; Catholic and other religious leaders warned it would violate confessional sacramental law and could deter confession.
Senate Bill 5375, which would make members of the clergy mandated reporters of child abuse and remove the clergy-penitent reporting exemption, drew emotional testimony and sharply divided witnesses at a Jan. 28 hearing of the Senate Human Services Committee.
Allison Mendiola, committee staff, summarized current law and the bill’s change: Washington requires certain people to report suspected child abuse; a privileged communication exception—the clergy-penitent privilege—currently prevents compelled testimony or reports when information is obtained solely as a privileged communication. Under SB 5375, members of the clergy would be required to report suspected child abuse or neglect even if the information was obtained during privileged communications; the bill’s text defines “member of the clergy” broadly and does not alter privileges for compelled testimony in prosecutions.
Senator Noelle Freme, sponsor of the bill and a…
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