Washington state

The Latest

Bishop Robert Barron is the founder of Word on Fire, a media apostolate focused on evangelization.

Bishop Barron urges court to strike down Washington law that targets seal of confession

Jul 4, 2025

By Daniel Payne

Bishop Robert Barron on July 4 urged a federal court to strike down a Washington state law that would force... Read more

Confessional.

Confraternity of Catholic Clergy defends inviolable seal of confession

Jul 1, 2025

By Amira Abuzeid

The Confraternity of Catholic Clergy, representing over 500 Catholic priests and deacons, has issued a statement defending the inviolability of... Read more

Purple stole and confessional.

Justice Department sues Washington state over law forcing priests to break confession seal

Jun 23, 2025

By Amira Abuzeid

The DOJ in a press release announcing the lawsuit filed on June 23 said the Washington law “violates the free... Read more

CNA

Orthodox churches join Catholic bishops in suing Washington state over confession law

Jun 17, 2025

By Daniel Payne

Orthodox churches have joined the Catholic bishops of Washington in a lawsuit against a state law requiring clergy violate the... Read more

Washington state’s governor signed a law on May 1, 2025, that threatens priests with up to one year in jail if they fail to report child abuse they learn about during the sacrament of confession.

Trump’s Justice Department investigates Washington law threatening seal of confession

May 6, 2025

By Tyler Arnold

The new law, signed by Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson last week, adds members of the clergy to the list of... Read more

Confessional.

Washington governor signs abuse bill requiring priests to break seal of confession

May 3, 2025

By Daniel Payne

The measure adds clergy to the list of mandatory abuse reporters in the state but doesn’t include an exemption for... Read more

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Spokane bishop urges voters to oppose bill that forces priests to break seal of confession

Feb 5, 2025

By Daniel Payne

The bill would amend state law to require clergy to report instances of child abuse with no exemption for instances... Read more

The Environmental Restoration Disposal Facility is seen at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation on June 30, 2005, near Richland, Washington.

Catholic University lab gets $31 million contract to clean World War II-era nuclear site

Oct 2, 2024

By Jonah McKeown

The lab assists with nuclear cleanup efforts in areas around the country by researching safer and more cost-effective methods of... Read more

Jessica Tapia displays a sign outside the Garden Grove Unified School District board meeting on behalf of the Teachers Don’t Lie program.

California teacher fired for religious beliefs gets six-figure payout in court

May 16, 2024

By Kate Quiñones

After refusing to comply with a preferred pronoun rule, Jessica Tapia was fired by the Jurupa Unified School District from... Read more

Lisieux House ladies holding up a picture of St. Therese of Lisieux from a feast day celebration they had in her honor.

Lisieux House: Convent turned young adult community celebrates 10 years 

Feb 27, 2024

By Kate Quiñones

A small community of young adult women in Seattle has brought life back into an old convent for nearly a... Read more

Father Jesús Mariscal recently helped a homeless woman give birth to twins outside St. Paul Cathedral in Yakima, Washington .

Priest delivers twin babies outside cathedral in Washington state

Nov 20, 2023

By Catholic Extension

Father Jesús Mariscal is the parochial vicar at St. Paul Cathedral in Yakima, Washington. Read more

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Washington state House passes bill to allow hiding minors’ gender transitions from parents 

Apr 17, 2023

By Jonah McKeown

A bill under consideration in Washington state would allow licensed youth shelters to withhold information from parents about gender transition.  Read more

Barronelle Stutzman, a Christian and florist from Washington state who was sued after declining to create flower arrangements for a same-sex marriage.

Washington florist who declined to serve same-sex wedding will pay settlement, retire

Nov 18, 2021

By Kevin J. Jones

A Christian florist who was sued after declining to create flower arrangements for a same-sex wedding ceremony and subsequently spent... Read more

Bishop Thomas Daly of Spokane. CNA file photo.

Spokane bishop asks Catholic schools to follow state vaccine mandate, affirms exercise of religious exemption

Aug 26, 2021

By Jonah McKeown

Bishop Thomas Daly of Spokane wrote on Tuesday that Catholic schools in the diocese will be expected to comply with... Read more