I think we can understand each other here :) yeah, if this were about child abuse only, I could see a slippery slope argument. Is spanking abuse? Is grounding your kid very strictly abuse? Eye of the beholder.

But child sex abuse is so far over the line that it’s a lot easier. If you’re debating about whether something counts as sexual abuse of a child, something has gone horrible wrong 😵‍💫

And, I’d also point out “mandatory reporting” does not equal conviction. It just lets the police have it on the record. If they can’t prove it they won’t press charges - but it’s incredibly helpful to store that info in the record (that the clergy was aware and can be called to testify later).

I personally know a case where the clergy knew a man had raped his children- a panel of multiple clergy had investigated and questioned him and confessed - but he got off because it was his word vs the mother’s, and a toddler struggles to express being raped in court.

The police either didn’t know they could have gone to the clergy, or didn’t have the legal power to question them, due to the current state of WA law.

They at least charged the guy and he plea dealed to a lesser charge of regular child abuse- good for him (no sex offender listing), ok for the prosecutor (they weren’t sure they could get a conviction on only the very traumatized mother’s word), and bad for the community (a known child rapist is walking around free without being listed anywhere).

The clergy have a confession in writing I’m fairly sure but the police couldn’t get to it.

I know these kids and the clergy involved personally and it’s a big part of why I’m an adamant supporter of this law.