Catholic Church to excommunicate priests for following WA law requiring child abuse confessions to be reported
The Catholic Church announced that priests will be excommunicated if they follow a new Washington state law requiring clergy to report confessions about child abuse to law enforcement.
"Catholic clergy may not violate the seal of confession — or they will be excommunicated from the Church," the Archdiocese of Seattle said in a statement. "All Catholics must know and be assured that their confessions remain sacred, secure, confidential and protected by the law of the Church."
"The Catholic Church agrees with the goal of protecting children...
Catholic Church To Excommunicate Priests for Following New US State Law
The Catholic Church has issued a warning to its clergy in Washington state: Any priest who complies with a new law requiring the reporting of child abuse confessions to authorities will be excommunicated.
The new law, which will take effect on July 27, eliminates the long-standing confidentiality of the confessional, forcing Catholic leaders and lawmakers into a highly charged standoff over religious liberty and child protection.
Feds call child abuse confession law for priests "anti-Catholic" as church vows to excommunicate those who comply
The Catholic Church and federal government reacted vehemently to new legislation in Washington state that requires priests to report child abuse or neglect to law enforcement after learning about the crime through confessions.
Gov. Mike Ferguson signed the controversial bill into law last week, making it mandatory for all clergy to report child abuse, without exemptions for information disclosed during confession. Confessions were previously considered privileged...
Seattle city councilmember introduces resolution to acknowledge 'failure' of defund the police movement
Seattle councilmember Rob Saka introduced a resolution to completely cut ties with any commitments to defund the police.
After the murder of unarmed Minneapolis resident George Floyd in 2020, the slogan and movement to "Defund the Police" swept the country. Yet in the wake of a reported rise in crime in multiple cities across the country, politicians, even in Democratic Party strongholds, have sought to distance themselves from the idea.
Norwegian cruise worker arrested in Alaska for allegedly stabbing 3 people onboard: report
The FBI has arrested a Norwegian cruise ship worker in Alaska after he allegedly stabbed three people with medical scissors while onboard, reports say. The suspect, identified as Ntando Sogoni from South Africa, was recently hired by Norwegian and boarded its Encore cruise ship in Seattle on Sunday, the Juneau Empire newspaper reports, citing an affidavit filed by FBI Special Agent Matthew Judy. The ship left that day for a weeklong, round-trip excursion to Alaska with stops including Glacier Bay National Park and Victoria, British Columbia. "According to court documents,...
Western WA weather: Hottest temperatures of the year so far
It’s been 236 days since the last 80-degree day in Seattle, according to the National Weather Service, and the wait may soon be over. A high-pressure system — which causes air to descend rapidly, warming and drying along the way — will begin to build over Western Washington on Wednesday, strengthening at the end of the workweek. Forget about rain — we’re entering a sun-soaked spell with temperatures nearly tripping over themselves to reach 80 degrees. It will be “a pretty dramatic warm up over the next couple of days,”...
Join us: Live discussion on mental health and the role of libraries
Public spaces like libraries have increasingly played community roles in providing services for serious mental illness, substance use and homelessness. The Seattle Public Library now employs “social services librarians” to connect library patrons with services including housing, shelter, clothes and food. The ongoing programs raise a question for Seattle and other major cities: Whose job is it to care for a city’s most vulnerable residents, and how do libraries fit into the spectrum of services? On Monday, May 13, we invite you to join The Seattle Times and the Seattle...
Family values helped mold Henderson’s Fautanu on path to Pittsburgh
The importance of family was underscored when Troy Fautanu decided where he would celebrate his selection in the NFL Draft. The league invited all potential first-round prospects to attend the draft in Detroit. That included Fautanu, the 23-year-old fifth-year senior from Washington who was projected to be among the tackle-heavy prospects taken on the first day. Just 13 players accepted the invitation. Some stayed home because of the uncertainty surrounding their draft position. Others may have balked at celebrating their big day in the Motor City. For Fautanu, it came...
Numerous people jumped, conservative journalist attacked at UW Charlie Kirk event
A conservative reporter and several other people were attacked, allegedly by members of Antifa, during an event Tuesday at the University of Washington featuring Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA. The reporter, Jonathan Choe, as well as his security team is seen being attacked by a group of ruffians in the quad as he tries to run away, and then a member of his team is shown with blood trickling down his face and neck in the aftermath of the ambush. Choe and “his security were attacked by members...
Mariners score 4 in 9th to take down Twins
May 8 - Cal Raleigh hit a pinch-hit grand slam in the seventh inning, and the Seattle Mariners scored four runs in the ninth to secure a 10-6 win over the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday night in Minneapolis. Mitch Haniger drove in two runs for Seattle, which evened the four-game series at one win each. Dylan Moore, Josh Rojas and Ty France added one RBI apiece for the Mariners, who won for the third time in four games. Mariners right-hander Ryne Stanek (1-0) earned the win in relief. Ryan Jeffers...