Paul D Etienne v Robert Ferguson

On July 15, 2025, the United States filed a complaint in intervention in Etienne v. Ferguson/United States v. State of Washington (W.D. Wash.).  The complaint alleges that the State violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution when it passed Senate Bill 5375, which amends Washington’s mandatory reporting law for child abuse and neglect to include Catholic priests as mandatory reporters.  As a result, priests will have to reveal information they hear in Confession, which would result in their automatic excommunication from the Catholic Church.  On June 25, 2025, the United States filed a motion to preliminarily enjoin enforcement of this law.