By FāVS News Staff
Washington ranks among least ‘Faith-Friendly’ states in national report
A new report from the Napa Legal Institute — a Catholic nonprofit organization — places Washington state near the bottom of the 2025 Faith & Freedom Index, ranking it among the least “faith-friendly” states in the nation. The study evaluated all 50 states and Washington, D.C., on 15 legal factors affecting religious nonprofits, such as charitable registration rules, employment protections and constitutional safeguards for faith-based organizations. While Alabama (72%) and Kansas (69%) topped the list for their strong state-level religious freedom protections, Washington (35%) and Michigan (31%) scored the lowest. Idaho (54%) rated in the average category where most states were located.
The report cited broad nondiscrimination laws, specifically Blaine Amendments, which prohibit using public funds to support religious institutions, including religious schools, that can restrict faith-based operations as major challenges for religious groups in the state. Napa Legal Senior Counsel Frank Devito warned that Washington’s legal environment has forced local faith leaders and organizations to spend significant time and resources defending their rights, calling for stronger state-level protections for religious freedom.
Church delivers 20 tons of food to regional food banks
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints donated approximately 40,000 pounds of shelf-stable food Oct. 28 to three regional food pantries as Washington residents faced rising food costs and the potential loss of SNAP benefits due to a government shutdown beginning Nov. 1. A 53-foot semi-truck from the church’s Bishops’ Central Storehouse in Salt Lake City, Utah, delivered the supplies to GreenHouse Food Bank and Resource Center in Deer Park, North County Food Pantry in Elk and the Fairchild Air Force Base Food Pantry in Airway Heights.
The donation included pasta, beans, peanut butter, dry milk, flour and canned goods, with Fairchild AFB receiving about 20,000 pounds and the other two pantries receiving about 10,000 pounds each. “This food donation will help cover some of the badly needed nutrition for our families,” said Lora Benzinger, director of the North County Food Pantry, which serves a low-income area where clients face obstacles obtaining food. Church leaders said the donation reflected their commitment to serving neighbors in need and supporting military families, with the church’s more than 52,000 members in the Inland Northwest contributing to its food program through volunteer labor and donations.
Holy Family Haven to provide 72 affordable Clarkston apartments
Catholic Charities celebrated the grand opening of a new housing project complex to provide families with affordable, safe and secure homes on Oct. 22. The Holy Family Haven complex in Clarkston, Washington, is an apartment building with 72 units. This complex will also have support services for residents, such as mental health counseling, employment assistance, fresh food distribution and more.
Catholic Charities, the Horizon Housing Alliance, community members and students from Holy Family Catholic School attended the ceremony. The building was blessed by a priest and was decorated by the colorful artwork displays from students. “It’s not just a place to live,” said Jonathan Mallahan, director of housing at Catholic Charities. “It’s a foundation for families to make lasting changes in their lives and achieve their goals.”
About 30% of homes are still available, according to Mallahan. Applications for the apartments can be submitted at housing.cceasternwa.org/how-to-apply.
Gonzaga and IRC partner to empower refugee youth through education and mentorship
Gonzaga University’s School of Education has partnered with Spokane’s International Rescue Committee (IRC) to connect students with refugee and immigrant youth through tutoring, mentorship and community engagement. The collaboration grew from a shared vision between Gonzaga Professor James Hunter and IRC leaders to align the university’s “Immigrant and Refugee Perspectives” course with real-world service.
This fall, under Professor Jonas Cox, the entire class became IRC volunteers, completing a “Refugee 101” orientation before mentoring youth on campus. Students help newcomers improve English skills, build confidence and pursue educational and career goals, while gaining firsthand insight into global displacement and resettlement. The partnership not only fulfills Gonzaga’s Community Engaged Learning requirement but also deepens students’ empathy and cultural awareness, according to a Gonzaga story on the project. For refugee youth, it offers academic support and social connection, fostering a stronger sense of belonging. Both Gonzaga and IRC view the initiative as a model for building bridges through education and shared humanity.
YWCA Spokane announces 63 nominees for 2026 Women of Achievement Awards
YWCA Spokane has announced 63 nominees for the 2026 Women of Achievement Awards, marking the first year the full list of nominees has been publicly shared. The awards recognize women whose work — often behind the scenes — has significantly improved the Spokane community. Though only one honoree will be chosen in each category, the organization is celebrating all nominees for their inspiring, transformative contributions. Final honorees will be selected by a diverse committee using an equitable scoring process, with winners to be announced in January 2026. The full list of nominees can be found on YWCA’s website.
“Sounds of Freedom” concert to celebrate six years of ministry at Whitworth
Église Évangélique Maranatha and Jasmin Ministries will celebrate their sixth anniversary with the “Sounds of Freedom” concert on Sunday, Nov. 9 at 2:30 p.m. at Whitworth University’s Cowles Auditorium. The free, public event will feature Gospel music, stories of faith and cultural expressions from Haitian Creole and French-speaking communities. The celebration also highlights the ministries’ outreach work, including an orphanage in Haiti and transitional housing for Spokane college students. Pastor Luc Jasmin said the concert’s goal is to promote unity, love and mutual support within the community.
Some summaries created with help of AI. Staff still carefully edited material for content quality and publication standards.
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