Dear Friend,
One of the biggest stories this week was the white plume of smoke billowing from the Sistine Chapel to signal the conclave’s selection of the new pope. Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost of Chicago, will be the 267th person to fill the role and the first U.S.-born, though he’s spent most of his career in Peru and obtained citizenship there in 2015.
Since he wasn’t considered a top contender for the post, there has been much speculation about Prevost’s religiopolitical views. Those close to him suggest he embodies the ideals of the Order of St. Augustine, including unity, harmony, and a focus on bringing people together. By most accounts, his choice of the papal name “Leo” indicates an intention to carry on his predecessor’s commitment to social justice issues, especially poverty, immigration, and the environment. Or, in the words of far-right conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer: “WOKE MARXIST POPE.”
Loomer probably wouldn’t have liked the last Pope Leo, either. Leo XIII was considered an intellectual and a diplomat who modernized and mainstreamed Catholic doctrine. In the midst of America’s Gilded Age, his 1891 encyclical addressed social inequality for the first time, and his calls for class solidarity and workers’ rights earned him the nickname “Social Pope.”
Interestingly, the Gilded Age Leo also penned an apostolic letter to an American Archbishop to reject “Americanism,” or the heretical idea that a nation is so exceptional its Catholics can circumvent the Church’s authority and interpret doctrine as they see fit.
Remind anyone else of the vice president’s ordo amoris oopsie? Indeed, observers have noted that only months before becoming pope, an account thought to be Prevost’s shared a social media post criticizing the Trump Administration’s America First immigration policies, saying, “JD Vance is wrong” for misusing the moral theology to legitimize his political ideology.
On the other hand, it appears pre-pope Prevost repeatedly expressed opposition to abortion access, and in his first papal Mass at the Vatican, though he talked of building bridges, he also leaned on harmful anti-atheist tropes to warn the Church must “desperately” address those who lose or lack faith, which “is often tragically accompanied by the loss of meaning in life, the neglect of mercy, appalling violations of human dignity, the crisis of the family and so many other wounds that afflict our society.”
So, the Golden Age Leo’s views appear to be a predictably mixed bag. Even the most enlightened religious leaders are still governed by antiquated dogma.
As the smoke clears, we’re also continuing to learn more about serious allegations Prevost covered up sexual abuse scandals within the Church while he was responsible for overseeing complaints and investigations as head of the Dicastery for Bishops. The Church denies wrongdoing and insists everything was handled according to canonical policy.
However, in Catholicism and other faiths, canon law requires priests to keep confidential any information they receive during confession — including confessions of abuse. All 50 states recognize clergy-penitent privilege, which, like attorney-client privilege, considers these communications to be privileged, provides for their confidentiality, and prohibits any court from compelling testimony.
Many states have carved out special exemptions for clergy to exclude them from mandatory reporting laws that require certain people and professionals to report crimes, especially if they know or suspect a child or vulnerable adult is at risk. (Click here to see what the law is in your state!)
American Atheists has long objected to religious exemptions, including clergy-penitent privilege, that elevate personal beliefs over the safety, health, and well-being of others. Earlier this year, our policy team submitted testimony and sent out an Action Alert in support of Washington’s HB 1211, which would make clergy mandatory reporters of child abuse, like health care providers, educators, and social service workers.
Given our work on this issue, we were excited to see the Washington State Senate’s version of this bill, SB 5375, passed and signed into law last Friday! The rejoicing was short-lived. On Monday, the U.S. Justice Department announced it was opening a “civil rights investigation” into the so-called “anti-Catholic” law, claiming it “demands that Catholic Priests violate their deeply held faith in order to obey the law, a violation of the Constitution and a breach of the free exercise of religion cannot stand under our Constitutional system of government.”
Only two days later, in a separate statement, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said: “The Department of Justice will never stop fighting to protect victims — especially child victims — and we will not rest until we hunt down, arrest, and prosecute every child predator who preys on the most vulnerable among us.” FBI Director Kash Patel added: “Operation Restore Justice proves that no predator is out of reach.”
No predator except, apparently, when they confess in church.
After years of drumming up moral panic about teachers and librarians “grooming” children, the Trump Administration’s dizzying about-face on child abuse this week proves it’s all been smoke and mirrors. There is no sane or secular reason to oppose closing a loophole that allows a literally untold amount of harm, abuse, and neglect. Yet, by far the biggest opponent of life-saving legislation like HB 1211 and SB 5375 is the Catholic lobby, which has, nationwide, helped defeat more than 130 similar proposals.
American Atheists will never be able to rival the endless financial resources of the Catholic Church and its political lobbying arms. However, with your support, we will always advocate for reason over religion and relentlessly stand up for facts over faith. Your monthly contribution of any amount ensures our policy team can continue advocating for evidence-based policies in states like yours and opposing religious loopholes nationwide.
On a more personal note, I’ll admit having some hope this new pope may try to help curb the rise of religious nationalism — including Catholic integralism — around the world and right here at home. But like a good skeptic, I’m keenly aware any man who ascends to a position of such great power and supposed moral authority is still just a man.
An imperfect, complicated human like the rest of us. A Wordle-playing baseball fan like a few of us. And, as the leader of over one billion Catholics worldwide, a person inexorably bound by a religious doctrine that explicitly prohibits notifying civil authorities of heinous crimes; unwaveringly loyal to a religious institution that promises to excommunicate members who uphold civil laws; and unconditionally devoted to a religion that often tragically values its cone hat of silence more than transparency, accountability, and justice for victims of abuse.
In solidarity,
Melina Cohen
Director of Strategic Communications & Policy Engagement
American Atheists is a 501(c)(3) non-partisan, nonprofit educational organization that relies on the support of members like you. Contributions are tax-deductible. Our Federal Tax ID Number is 74-2466507 and our Combined Federal Campaign number is 52217.
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