Washington Archives

Priest of the Diocese of Yakima exonerated

Dec 18, 2020

A senior priest of the Diocese of Yakima, Father Seamus Kerr, was exonerated as part of a settlement of a lawsuit filed against the diocese in 2019 alleging a man from Ellensburg, Washington, was sexually abused by priests at St. Andrew Catholic Church there when he was a minor.

By Catholic News Service

Sex ed mandate sparks bitter Washington state ballot fight

Sep 28, 2020

SEATTLE — Democrats in the Washington state Legislature thought they had passed a routine sex education requirement for public schools earlier this year. But a coalition of Republicans and religious conservatives launched a swift, historic backlash that’s led to a bitter partisan fight and an effort to overturn the measure

By Sally Ho

State of Washington issues new guidelines for religious services
- May 28, 2020
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee announced Wednesday that churches, mosques and synagogues can resume in-person services, with those in counties in the second stage of the state’s COVID-19 reopening plan allowed to have smaller in-building services and the remainder limited to outdoor services with no more than 100 people.

By Rachel La Corte
Faith leaders: Protecting human life is priority in reopening churches
- May 26, 2020
The bishops of the state of Washington said suspension of the public celebration of Mass because of the coronavirus pandemic was undertaken “not out of fear, but out of our deepest respect for human life and health.”

By Catholic News Service
Priest in Diocese of Yakima hospitalized with coronavirus
- Mar 16, 2020
A priest of the Diocese of Yakima has been hospitalized for two weeks with COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.

By Catholic News Service
Coronavirus leads to Mass suspension in Seattle, dispensation in Kentucky
- Mar 13, 2020
The Archdiocese of Seattle became the first in the country to announce March 11 the temporary suspension of all public Masses to help prevent the spread of coronavirus.

By Rhina Guidos