null / ShutterstockSt. Louis, Mo., Apr 17, 2023 / 13:30 pm (CNA).A bill under consideration in Washington state would allow licensed youth shelters to withhold information from parents about whether a child in their care is undergoing a gender transition, allowing the shelters to instead contact the state. The bill, titled "Supporting youth and young adults seeking protected health care services," introduced by six Democrats, passed the state House last Wednesday. The bill would allow licensed overnight youth shelters housing a minor to inform only the state s Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) and not a child s parents if the child is "seeking or receiving protected health care services." The bill defines protected services as including "evaluation and treatments for gender dysphoria, gender-affirming hormone therapy, and gender-affirming surgical procedures.""This legislation ensures that our trans youth have safe opti
The Washington State Catholic Conference, which represents the state’s Catholic bishops, noted that the bill undermines the foundational relationship between.
(OSV News) A bill that would require clergy to report child abuse or neglect in Washington state is under consideration by the Legislature, but some have expressed concern that this bill could force Catholic priests to violate the civil law in order to uphold church law regarding the seal of confession.
SB 5280, sponsored by state Sen. Noel Frame, D-Seattle, would make members of the clergy mandatory reporters, people required by law to report suspected or known instances of child abuse or n