1. United States
2. Wash.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to support [Bill Number], which would make clergy mandatory reporters of child abuse in Washington State. This is a crucial step in protecting vulnerable children from harm and ensuring that religious institutions do not become safe havens for abusers. Certain religious organizations, such as the Jehovah’s Witnesses, have a documented history of concealing child sexual abuse under a culture of secrecy. The Catholic Church and other groups oppose this bill, claiming it infringes on religious freedom, particularly regarding confessional privilege. But no institution should be allowed to put the religious freedom of abusers above the rights of children to safety and justice. As it stands, some religious organizations exploit confessional privilege to suppress all reports of child abuse, shielding predators and silencing victims. We cannot allow these loopholes to continue enabling abuse. More than 30 states already require clergy to report suspected child abuse—Washington should not be an outlier in protecting its children. I urge you to stand with survivors, families, and advocates in supporting this bill. Please do the right thing and ensure that no institution is above the law when it comes to protecting children.