The bill would amend state law to require clergy to report instances of child abuse with no exemption for instances where the ...

While clergy are often mandatory reporters outside of the confessional, long-standing legal precedent in the U.S. recognizes ...

The Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge has issued a statement decrying a decision by the Louisiana Supreme Court that could compel a local priest to testify in court about confessions he might have ...

The legislation is setting up a fight over First Amendment protections as Catholic organizations argue that not only would the law violate the “seal of confession,” but it would also put priests in a ...

Priests that break the seal of confession are automatically excommunicated from the church, according to Canon law. The bill was proposed by Democratic Washington state Sens. Noel Frame ...

A confessional is a booth where Catholic priests hear parishioners’ confessions of their sins and grant them absolution, forgiveness, in the name of God. Confession and repentance always take ...

Spokane Bishop Thomas Daly is urging Catholic voters in Washington state to oppose a proposed law that would order priests to violate the seal of confession in cases where child abuse is revealed ...

A Montana bill that could compel Catholic priests to break the seal of confession is being criticized by Catholics who say it could eliminate key religious liberty protections. The proposed bill ...

A proposed law in Washington state would require priests to violate Catholic Church law by breaking the seal of confession. The bill would amend the current state law that requires law enforcement ...