By FāVS News Staff
Washington court allows attorney general’s probe of Catholic Church finances to continue
A Washington state appeals court ruled Monday that the attorney general’s office can continue investigating whether the Catholic Church misused charitable funds to cover up child sex abuse allegations, reversing a lower court decision.
The ruling directs King County Superior Court to determine what financial records and information the attorney general’s office can subpoena without violating the church’s legal protections. The investigation, launched in July 2023 under then-Attorney General Bob Ferguson, centers on allegations the church moved clergy suspected of abuse to conceal misconduct and whether charitable donations were used to facilitate that effort. Ferguson, now Washington’s governor, called the unanimous decision “an important win for transparency” and urged church leaders to “stop fighting this investigation.” Spokespersons for the Archdiocese of Seattle and the Diocese of Spokane did not respond to requests for comment.
Spokane opens LGBTQIA+ shelter at North Hill Christian Church
The city of Spokane, in partnership with North Hill Christian Church and Jewels Helping Hands, is opening a new scattered site shelter for unhoused LGBTQIA+ community members. The Aurora Center, located at 4620 N. Post St., will offer 15 emergency overnight beds along with daytime services, with the goal of short-term stabilization and connection to longer-term housing. Providence, the Center for Growth and Empowerment, and Community, Advocacy and Treatment Spokane will provide wraparound services at the site, including medical care, substance use disorder treatment and housing placement.
Mayor Lisa Brown said LGBTQIA+ individuals experiencing homelessness face “unique and urgent challenges” and called the shelter a safe space for support and resources. Neighbors can learn more at an open house March 5 from 4 to 5 p.m. at North Hill Christian Church, which will include an overview of shelter operations, safety information and a Q&A session with Jewels Helping Hands staff.
Journalist Tracy Simmons to speak on “Finding Common Ground” at UU Church of the Palouse
Award-winning religion journalist Tracy Simmons will speak at the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Palouse on Sunday, March 15, at 10 a.m., with a talk titled “Finding Common Ground.”
Simmons, who has spent more than two decades reporting on religion, says she was first drawn to the beat after experiencing religion’s darker side while growing up. What has kept her covering it, however, is something very different: witnessing people from vastly different beliefs working together in pursuit of love and justice.
Now a Scholarly Associate Professor at Murrow College of Communication at Washington State University and executive director of FāVS News, Simmons has reported widely across the country. Her work has taken her from cargo ships in New Jersey and police chases in Albuquerque to church bell towers in Texas and tent cities in Haiti. She currently writes nationally and serves as a reporter and columnist for The Spokesman-Review.
UW Tacoma students mark Ramadan with campus Iftar as Washington recognizes Eid holidays
Students at University of Washington Tacoma gathered for an Iftar meal during Ramadan while Washington’s formal recognition of Eid holidays highlights growing visibility for Muslim communities in the state.
Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting, prayer and reflection, began Feb. 18 in the United States and is expected to end March 19, followed by Eid al-Fitr. During the month, Muslims fast daily from dawn to sunset, breaking the fast with an evening meal known as iftar.
On Feb. 23, the campus Muslim Student Association at UW Tacoma hosted its annual Iftar Night, welcoming students of all backgrounds to share the meal and learn about Ramadan traditions. Graduate student Adil Nadeem described Ramadan as a time for discipline, gratitude and spiritual growth, noting that community gatherings and campus support help students balance academic life while fasting. In 2025, Gov. Bob Ferguson signed legislation formally recognizing Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha as state-recognized holidays in Washington.
Faith leaders in Washington mobilize as ICE activity raises concerns at churches
Religious leaders and immigrant advocates in Washington are organizing to support congregations amid concerns about increased activity by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), reported the Washington State Standard.
Accounts of ICE vehicles near churches in Wenatchee last December prompted volunteers from Wenatchee for Immigrant Justice to monitor worship sites during celebrations of Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, a major Catholic holiday widely observed in Latin American communities. Advocates say the presence — or even rumors — of immigration enforcement can discourage people from attending services.
According to Kevin Brown, a religious studies lecturer at Gonzaga University, the removal of federal guidance discouraging enforcement at sensitive locations such as churches and schools has created new challenges for faith leaders trying to ensure congregants feel safe.
At Cascade Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in East Wenatchee, the Rev. Thomas Perchlik posted signs requiring a judicial warrant for agents to enter church buildings, while interfaith groups organize training and share resources to support immigrant communities.
Fig Tree Spring Benefits to highlight community impact with “Persist Together” theme
The Fig Tree will host its 2026 Spring Benefits under the theme “Persist Together: Inspire Miracles,” with events scheduled March 14 at the Hemmingson Ballroom at Gonzaga University and March 18 on Zoom.
The gatherings will feature speakers including David Gortner of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Coeur d’Alene, LaRae Wiley of the Spokane Salish School, Luc Jasmin III from the Washington governor’s office and Laurel Fish of the Spokane Alliance. The speakers will discuss how storytelling about community leaders and organizations helps inspire action and build connections.
A video produced by Hamilton Studio will feature additional local voices working in areas such as refugee support, Indigenous culture, peace advocacy and environmental protection. Organizers aim to raise $60,000 to support The Fig Tree’s journalism, publications and interfaith education programs.
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