Washington state Democrats are singling out religious leaders in a law they claim is upholding the separation between church and state. In reality, it is the imposition of the state on the church, singling out religion as the focus of the law.

The new law that has been signed by Democratic Gov. Bob Ferguson adds members of the clergy to the state’s list of mandated reporters of child abuse. That itself is not a big deal, but the law went further than other states by requiring members of the clergy to divulge information learned during the sacrament of Reconciliation. Catholic priests are not allowed to reveal anything shared with them in confession under threat of excommunication, as the seal of confession is crucial to the sacrament itself.