Re: “WA backs off requiring clergy to report abuse learned in confession” (Oct. 10, Local News):
I feel a sense of betrayal by Gov. Bob Ferguson and Attorney General Nick Brown. We, an organization called Catholic Accountability Coalition, fought long and hard to pass Senate Bill 5375. And we did.
The bill would have assured parents and others that if a child shared in confession that he or she was fondled or sexually assaulted by a stranger, priest, relative, parent or friend, the priest confessor would report this crime to the local police. But the Church didn’t like this outcome. It fought and spent parishioners’ money to protect a priest’s privilege to keep secret crimes against children shared in confession.
How ironic to have such a privilege that protects rapists and child molesters, and irrevocably harms children. I know because I was one of those children.
Mary Dispenza, Bellevue
