Orthodox churches join Catholics in lawsuit against new US law

An anti-abuse law in a US state could undermine the seal of confession. Orthodox churches are now joining forces with Catholic bishops in court

Jun 20, 2025

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The sun shines through a statue of Christ on a grave marker alongside an American flag at St. Mary Catholic Cemetery in Appleton, Wis., in this 2018 photo. (OSV News file photo/Bradley Birkholz)

Orthodox churches in the USA are joining the lawsuit filed by Catholic bishops against a new anti-abuse law in Washington state. It is intended to oblige clergy of all religions to report cases of child abuse - even if they were disclosed during a confession. Now - among others - the Orthodox Church in America and the Antiochian Orthodox Church have filed a lawsuit with a federal court, as US media reported on Tuesday (local time).

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