Confessions, Power, and a Federal Probe: They Fought to Protect Children—Now They’re Being Investigated

Published by: Miss Usato May 8th, 2025

Survivors and advocates pushed Washington to end clergy abuse secrecy. Days after their victory, the federal government pushed back.

The signature survivors and activists have been waiting for in Washington State

April 15th, 2025, Washington State – The state was just a signature away from adopting a law that would require clergy members to report child abuse to law enforcement authorities if they happen to learn about it through the act of Confession. Activists have been trying for nearly 20 years to get this bill passed, though the most significant momentum has occurred in the past three years. AvoidJW published this success under ‘Victory for Survivors: Washington Designates Clergy As Mandated Reporters Of Child Abuse‘ along with Mitch Melin, a friend and Former Jehovah’s Witness advocate who has been alongside other Catholic and Jehovah’s Witnesses activists striving for the Bill to pass.

May 2nd, 2025, Washington State – Governor Bob Ferguson finally signed Senate Bill 5375 into law on May 2nd, 2025. This is a law that now requires clergy to report suspected child abuse or neglect, even if they heard about it in a private confession. This closes a loophole that had previously let clergy keep that kind of information to themselves. With that, Washington became the seventh state in the country to adopt clergy reporting laws without religious exemption. The activists who fought for this bill were beyond relieved. They’d pushed back against the outdated religious exemptions that let clergy hide child abuse allegations and shared their own painful stories—stories that had been kept in the shadows for far too long. An article explaining this more: ‘After years of debate, Washington Governor to act on clergy abuse report bill tomorrow’

Unfortunately, after the bill was signed, the relief was short-lived when the tables turned, and once again, it was not in favor of the states or survivors of abuse.

The fight for what is right

May 5th, 2025, Washington D.C., DOJ -Barely three days later, the DOJ (The U.S. Department of Justice) made its move. They announced they had launched a First Amendment investigation into the bill. The timing? It’s not a coincidence.

The Justice Department announces First Amendment investigation into Washington State’s new anti-Catholic law, Senate Bill 5375

WA law mandating clergy report child abuse to be investigated by Trump’s Justice Department

February 6th, 2025, Capitol Visitor Center in D.C., President Trump –This new investigation comes in just months after President Trump’s speech at the National Prayer Breakfast, where he unveiled a new federal task force to tackle what he called “anti-Christian bias” in government. He also signed an executive order to establish a White House Faith Office and a Presidential Commission on Religious Liberty. It seems like the fight is far from over.

If you’re wondering what the National Prayer Breakfast is, it’s basically a God-and eggs type of event, a political and religious meetup held every year in Washington, D.C., since 1953. Leaders from all kinds of faith backgrounds show up, including politicians, to share breakfast, pray, and talk about unity and faith. In recent years, though, the event has stirred controversy, with some critics pointing to a lack of transparency and political agendas behind the scenes. It even split into two different events in 2023 because of those concerns.

Did you know?

President Dwight D. Eisenhower was the first U.S. president to attend the National Prayer Breakfast. Not many know that Eisenhower’s childhood home served as a local meeting hall for the Bible Students from 1896 to 1915. His mother, Ida Stover Eisenhower, was with the religious movement that would become Jehovah’s Witnesses. Eisenhower himself was not a member. Yet, when Eisenhower took the oath of office in January of 1953, he placed his hand on two Bibles. One was the Bible George Washington used when he was inaugurated in 1789, the other was one his parents gave him, The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures.

The Breakfast Prayer was framed as a quiet, nonpartisan gathering focused on unity, moral reflection, and bipartisan faith. This is quite different from now, when it is more politically charged than ever. Dr. Jerry Bergman, a former Jehovah’s Witness, wrote a book about Eisenhower’s life and his ties to Jehovah’s Witnesses. Watchtower History Channel did an interview with him that is separated into three videos: Watchtower History Interview with Dr. Jerry Bergman on Eisenhower

Heat between DOJ and FFRF about reporting abuse

May 6th, 2025, Washington D.C., FFRF -After the news of the DOJ and the Trump administration launching this investigation came out, the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) threw back criticism on the DOJ’s investigation, arguing that the Washingtons SB 5375 is a neutral, bipartisan law designed to protect children from abuse. FFRF argues that the DOJ’s framing of the law as “anti-Catholic” is inaccurate and troubling, emphasizing that the legislation does not single out any particular religion but applies uniformly to all clergy members.

Governor Ferguson, a practicing Catholic, also defended the new law, stating that it aims to safeguard children and that the state looks forward to cooperating with the DOJ’s investigation. When it comes to religion and the law, there do seem to be two sides: those who think confessions about abuse should stay sealed, no matter what, and those who believe that covering up abuse, in any form, is not just wrong but criminal.

FFRF slams DOJ Investigation into mandatory reporting CSA

May 7, 2025, Baltimore, MD – The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced the results of “Operation Restore Justice,” a nationwide initiative that led to the arrest of 205 individuals accused of child sexual abuse and the rescue of 115 children. Attorney General Pamela Bondi emphasized the department’s unwavering commitment to protecting children, stating, “The Department of Justice will never stop fighting to protect victims—especially child victims—and we will not rest until we hunt down, arrest, and prosecute every child predator who preys on the most vulnerable among us.”

Where is the line drawn when it comes to abuse?

May 8th, 2025, New York Times article –In an article titled ‘New Law Requires Priests to Break Seal of Confession to Report Child Abuse,’ It mentions JW spokesperson Jarrod Lopes stating that their church abhors child abuse and strictly follows local and national laws on reporting to authorities. “He described the internal investigation process as a “Purely religious proceeding handled by elders” and said it deals only with the accused abusers standing in the church.”

__________

The timing of this has raised questions about the balance between safeguarding children and upholding religious freedoms. While the DOJ is actively pursuing individuals who exploit children, it is simultaneously scrutinizing a state law designed to prevent such abuse, highlighting the complex interplay between child protection efforts and constitutional rights.

The Department of Justice is adamantly declaring it’s cracking down on child predators, making big promises about tracking down abusers. But the day before, they launched an investigation into Washington’s new law that requires clergy to report child abuse, even if it’s confessed in secret. How does that not clash with their own messaging? If they’re serious about protecting kids, why go after a law aimed at doing just that? It makes you wonder—how solid is their commitment, and where do they draw the line regarding accountability?

This article will be updated as this investigation continues.