Analysis Summary:

The article's core claim about the Washington state law requiring priests to report child abuse learned through confession is plausible, but the provided sources do not directly verify this specific claim or the federal government's response. The claim that the church vows excommunication is also not verifiable with the provided sources. Therefore, the factual accuracy is mixed. The title and snippet suggest a potential bias against the Catholic Church, framing the situation as a conflict.

Detailed Analysis:

• Claim:** Priests are required to report child abuse or neglect to Washington state law enforcement after learning about the crime through confessions.
  • Verification Source #1, #2, #3, #4, and #5: *Fail to cover* this specific claim.
  • Internal Knowledge: This claim aligns with recent legal developments in several states regarding mandatory reporting laws and the clergy. However, without specific verification, it remains unverified by the provided sources.
• Claim:** Feds call abuse reporting law "anti-Catholic".
  • Verification Source #1, #2, #3, #4, and #5: *Fail to cover* this specific claim.
  • Internal Knowledge: This claim is plausible, given the potential conflict between mandatory reporting and the seal of confession. However, without specific verification, it remains unverified by the provided sources.
• Claim:** Church vows excommunication.
  • Verification Source #1, #2, #3, #4, and #5: *Fail to cover* this specific claim.
  • Internal Knowledge: The Catholic Church has historically used excommunication as a disciplinary measure. However, without specific verification, it remains unverified by the provided sources.

Supporting Evidence/Contradictions:

• The provided sources do not offer direct support or contradiction for any of the article's key claims. They primarily focus on historical records and general information about the Catholic Church.
• Verification Source #2 and #3: These sources, titled "Washington in the lap of Rome," suggest a historical concern about the Catholic Church's influence in Washington state, which could be interpreted as a form of bias, but they do not directly relate to the specific claims in the article.