WASHINGTON – The Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against Washington State over a new law that it claims infringes on the religious rights of Catholics by mandating priests to break the seal of Confession.
According to the lawsuit, the bill forces priests to choose between their religious vows and facing criminal charges, thus violating the First Amendment and Equal Protection Clause.
“Laws that explicitly target religious practices such as the Sacrament of Confession in the Catholic Church have no place in our society,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon.
The case, Etienne v. Ferguson, is currently pending in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington.
