After adding clergy to the list of mandatory reporters, however, Washington’s amendment goes on to affix the words “except for members of the clergy” to the beginning of the sentence exempting those who have received the information solely as a result of a privileged communication.
That’s seriously problematic for Catholic priests, who face excommunication if they knowingly reveal information they receive under the seal of confession. No wonder the Catholic bishops in Seattle, Spokane and Yakima filed suit and asked the court for an injunction.
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