[camcil]

The State of Washington is leading an effort to require this for any crime admission by first specifying child abuse to rally the troops. There is nothing surprising that a 2,000 year old institution isn't willing to change their sacred traditions over a state law-- even when gaslit using specific actions such as child abuse.

[pjc50]

It's not gaslighting when religious instututions and especially the US Catholic Church have recently had significant scandals of inaction over child abuse

Piercing confessional secrecy is going too far. But the case that all religious or other organizations that regularly supervise children need to be willing to report and deal with abuse by their staff is very strong.

[camcil]

> the case that all religious or other organizations that regularly supervise children need to be willing to report and deal with abuse by their staff is very strong

I completely agree, and would never argue against that. It appears that this is precisely their angle - to back them into a lose-lose corner. It is a 100% guarantee that the Church is not going to remove the 2,000 year requirements of a sacramental seal to appease a state law. So this will be booked as more "evidence" of the Church failing to protect children.