Mandatory reporting of child abuse by clergy is just

\Thank you for your excellent coverage of Senate Bill 5375 (“Hold clergy to duty to report child abuse,” The Herald, March 5).

For far too long religious organizations have used Washington’s exemption for reporting child abuse to keep child abuse hidden and thus protect their institutions and putting the welfare of abusers ahead of the welfare of our children.

To be clear, SB 5375 will not affect the vast majority of confessions; only those who are hurting our children. It is time for these religious leaders to join the moral majority of religious leaders and support mandatory reporting.

Critics argue this legislation infringes upon religious liberty; it does not. The state constitution states that religious freedom “shall not excuse acts of licentiousness or justify practices inconsistent with the peach and safety of the state.” And, the U.S. Constitution, in The Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment protects citizens “right to practice their religion as they please, ‘so long as the practice does not run afoul of a public morals or a compelling government interest.” We submit that the safety of our children is compelling and it is the civic duty of our government to ensure their safety. If we allowed religious dogma to take precedence over our state laws, then we might all be required to serve two years as missionaries in a foreign country or to comply with other mandates.

My Catholic church states that they will excommunicate a good priest for reporting credible knowledge of child abuse learned of in confession, but they have not provided one example where they have done so. And, sadly and historically, pedophile priests were moved to another parish where they could continue their abuse.

It is time to remove the clergy-penitent privilege and require our spiritual leaders to report child abuse just like every other responsible adult in Washington does who lives or works with children.

Sharon Valdés Huling

Seattle