WA bill mandating clergy report abuse clears Senate floor
Catholic Bishop Joseph Tyson of the Yakima Diocese speaks at a St. Rose of Lima Catholic School function in November 2024. Tyson expressed concern about a state law that could potentially require priests to break the seal of the confessional if a confessor admits to abusing a child during confession.
FILE PHOTO
If passed into law, SB 5375 would require clergy within all churches, including Kingdom Halls of those in the Jehovah's Witness faith to relay any reports, via a confession or complaint, of child abuse to local authorities. National leadership for the church has said it already has programs in place to address abuse and would comply with any laws passed in Washington.
OLYMPIA – Rachel Fisher’s parents sang kingdom melodies the day she was born. The sound of religion followed Fisher growing up, where her evenings began with religious studies and ended with Bible dramas lulling her to sleep.
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