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After consultation with the Priest Council, the bishops of the Northwest, and after reviewing the recent guidelines by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, I have decided that the general dispensation from the obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation is no longer necessary.  With widespread access to vaccine and a resulting drop in hospitalizations, we have moved beyond the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

After consultation with the Priest Council, the bishops of the Northwest, and after reviewing the recent guidelines by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, I have decided that the general dispensation from the obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation is no longer necessary.  With widespread access to vaccine and a resulting drop in hospitalizations, we have moved beyond the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Overnight, a fire destroyed part of St. Charles School and Parish Rectory in north Spokane. At this time, information on the building's status is limited, and we ask for your patience. Thanks to the quick response from the Spokane Police and Fire Departments everyone is safe. While the fire department investigates and the damages are being assessed, the school has begun planning for the next steps to continue education for their students. Please keep the pastor, principal, staff, students, and school community in your prayers.

The Diocese of Spokane condemns today’s act of anti-Semitic vandalism at Temple Beth Shalom. It is shocking to see our Jewish friends and neighbors targeted by this hateful action. The Church firmly “decries hatred, persecutions, displays of anti-Semitism, directed against Jews at any time and by anyone.”* Our prayers are with the Jewish community of Spokane. *Vatican Council II, Nostra Aetate, 3.

Dec. 12, 2020
The Washington State Catholic Conference, Catholic Charities and Catholic Health Care Support COVID-19 Vaccinations
(Read the statement by clicking on title)

La Conferencia Católica del Estado de Washington (WSCC) afirma que las vacunas contra el COVID-19 recientemente anunciadas son aceptables moralmente. La Conferencia Episcopal de los Estados Unidos (USCCB) confirma la aceptabilidad moral de las vacunas en este memorandum de fecha 20 de noviembre de 2020, del Comité de la USCCB sobre Doctrina. Junto con las Organizaciones Católicas para el Cuidado de la Salud y las Caridades Católicas del Estado de Washington, recomendamos que los fieles se vacunen contra el COVID-19 para protegerse, proteger a sus seres queridos y a la comunidad.

October 22, 2020
Recent news reports have indicated that Pope Francis expressed an opinion regarding same-sex civil unions in an upcoming documentary.  Many have contacted my office with questions, concerns, and confusion.  It is not my place to offer any clarification on these comments which I will leave to the Holy Father himself and his advisors in the Vatican. 
However, I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate the fact that universal truths, rooted in the natural law, do not change. Much like Jesus Christ himself, they are the same today, yesterday and forever. 
Click title for full statement

2 de octubre de 2020,

Como miembros del único Cuerpo de Cristo, debemos de estar unidos y firmes en nuestra adoración a Dios, en el anuncio del Evangelio y en el amor a nuestro prójimo. Esto es válido tanto en tiempos de relativa estabilidad como de gran perturbación, como hemos experimentado estos últimos ocho meses bajo la sombra de la pandemia del COVID-19. Con la meta general de la salvación de las almas, promulgo estas pautas para promover nuestras tareas esenciales de la celebración de los sacramentos, de la oración y de la enseñanza de la fe, preservando al mismo tiempo de las perturbaciones innecesarias provocadas por el virus. Además, nuestras acciones pueden contribuir al bien común de la comunidad en general, manifestando así nuestro amor al prójimo en un mundo hambriento de la misericordia de Dios.
A pesar de nuestra fatiga con la situación actual, la mejor información científica disponible sigue indicando que el coronavirus es significativamente más peligroso que la gripe estacional. Es, a la vez, más contagiosa y mortal que la gripe. Es lógico que debemos de acatar las precauciones necesarias en respuesta a estos riesgos tan elevados de contraer el coronavirus.
Nuestras precauciones hasta ahora han demostrado ser eficaces. Hasta la fecha, no ha habido casos de transmisión del COVID19, y, mucho menos brotes, asociados con la celebración de las Misas públicas en nuestra Diócesis. De hecho, hay evidencia, a nivel nacional, de que las iglesias que siguen las pautas de seguridad razonables no han visto que se propague el COVID-19, incluso en los casos en que los individuos asistieron involuntariamente a la Misa mientras ellos podían infectar a otras personas. Sin embargo, debemos recordar que el coronavirus es capaz de propagarse rápidamente en los entornos de la Iglesia cuando no se siguen los protocolos de seguridad. Por tanto, les agradezco su ayuda al regresar a las Misas de manera responsable y segura para, así, tener una vida parroquial más activa, y los animo a la paciencia y a la perseverancia.
Estas pautas se refieren a las actividades sacramentales, espirituales y catequéticas propias de la parroquia. Esto incluye la celebración de la Misa con público, las ocasiones de la oración comunitaria y privada, y la celebración de las clases de catecismo. Las escuelas católicas deben observar las directrices más específicas que les proporciona la Oficina de Educación.

I found this column by Bishop Donald Hying of Madison, Wisconsin to be insightful and helpful as we move closer to the November election. As Catholics, we must weigh many concerns when filling out our ballot, but abortion remains the preeminent moral issue of our times. I wanted to share Bishop Hying’s words with you as you prepare to vote. – Bishop Thomas Daly

Many faithful Catholics have asked me to offer some direction regarding conscience formation and the moral aspect of the many issues facing us as a nation, as we approach this year's presidential election. We would all agree that this election has a contentious and angry divisiveness that we have not seen in our lifetimes. This is due, in part, to the personalities, policies, and factions in play, and it certainly has been exacerbated by the COVID pandemic and social unrest (I believe that there are other, more significant and fundamental reasons for the growing tension in our society, but that's a topic for another time). At the outset, I want to remind everyone that before all else, we belong to Christ.
Read the full column by clicking on the title.

A Decree: On the Transfer of the Date of the Liturgical Celebration of the Dedication of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes
October 5, 2020
According to the General Calendar of the Roman Catholic Church, the memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary falls annually on October 7th. However, in our particular calendar for the local church in Eastern Washington, the liturgical celebration of the Dedication of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes supersedes this Marian memorial. Given the prominence of Marian devotion and the special relationship Our Lady has with our diocese, especially under the title of the Immaculate Conception, I wish to adjust our particular calendar so that the faithful may celebrate both Our Lady of the Rosary and the Dedication of the Cathedral.
Therefore, I decree that the liturgical celebration of the Dedication of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes shall be transferred from October 7th to October 8th. In accord with liturgical law, the Dedication of the Cathedral shall be celebrated with the rank of a solemnity at the cathedral and with the rank of a feast at all other locations within the diocese on October 8th. The Diocese of Spokane shall observe October 7th as the obligatory memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary as it is listed in the General Calendar.
These changes to the particular calendar of the Diocese of Spokane shall come into effect over October 7 and 8, 2020 and remain in effect for all subsequent years.
(Click on the title for the full decree)

October 2nd, 2020
As members of the one Body of Christ, we must be united and steadfast in our worship of God, the proclamation of the Gospel, and love of our neighbor. This holds true both in times of relative stability and of great disruption – as we have experienced these past eight months under the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic. With the overarching goal of the salvation of souls, I promulgate these guidelines to promote our essential tasks of the celebration of the sacraments, prayer, and the teaching of the Faith while preserving them from unnecessary disruption brought about by the virus. Furthermore, our actions can contribute to the common good of the broader community, thus manifesting our love of neighbor to a world hungering for the mercy of God.

Notwithstanding our fatigue with the current situation, the best available scientific information continues to indicate that the coronavirus is significantly more dangerous than the seasonal flu. It is both more contagious and fatal than influenza. It stands to reason that we abide by measured, heightened precautions in response to these elevated risks.

Our precautions thus far have proven effective. To date, there have been no instances of COVID-19 transmission, let alone outbreaks, associated with the celebration of public Masses in our diocese. In fact, there is nation-wide evidence that churches following reasonable safety guidelines have not seen any COVID-19 spread, even in cases when individuals unwittingly attended Mass while infectious. Nevertheless, we must remember that coronavirus is capable of spreading quickly in church settings in the absence of safety protocols.iv I therefore thank you for your contribution to our responsible and safe return to more active parish life, and I encourage you to patience and perseverance.

These guidelines pertain to sacramental, spiritual, and catechetical activities proper to the parish. This includes the celebration of public Mass, occasions of communal and private prayer, and the holding of religious study classes. Catholic schools should observe the more specific guidelines provided them by the Office of Education.

(Full Guidelines available by clicking on the title)

August 31, 2020
Rev. Msgr. Brian Mee and Rev. Msgr. Mark Pautler were given the honorific title of Monsignor by Pope Francis, an honor given to priests with distinguished histories of service. Read more at link.

July, 29, 2020
It comes as no surprise that the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted the parishes and Catholic institutions of our diocese. Immaculate Heart Retreat Center has been forced to cancel all its programs and offerings at least through the end of this calendar year. Continued at link

July 28, 2020
Statement issued by Fr. Darrin Connall, VG to the staff and clergy of the diocese regarding the liturgical composer David Hass. Continued at link

July 5, 2020
Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Faith,
Less than three weeks ago, on the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, I issued a pastoral letter on the Eucharist. In that letter I stated, “Brothers and sisters, there is no room for division among us; it is our prayer, it is God’s will that we be ‘one body, one spirit in Christ.’” Now this short while later, we find our Catholic community roiled over a video made by Dr. Rob McCann, the CEO of Catholic Charities of Eastern Washington. While the subject of the video – racism – is certainly appropriate in the aftermath of the horrific and unjustified death of George Floyd, Dr. McCann’s blunt presentation was interpreted by many as levying false accusations against “whites” and the Catholic Church. This was only one of several issues that his video raised. Many faithful Catholics, whose lives evidence a daily commitment to compassion and justice, expressed their disappointment and frustration with Dr. McCann’s message.
I met with Dr. McCann earlier in the week to address my concerns over a number of statements he made in his presentation. Our conversation was candid and frank – and hopefully productive. Dr. McCann has now posted a letter that I encourage everyone to read. It provides some retractions and clarifications. While his letter answers some of my concerns, others remain. Read more by clicking on the link

June 22, 2020 In the process of working for justice, to right historical wrongs, the stories we tell ourselves about the past often have to be examined. At this moment, many are calling for the removal of statues of certain historical figures, which can certainly be debated. At the same time, some individuals have taken it upon themselves, acting in violent mobs, to tear down statues based on a dangerously narrow interpretation of history. As a native of California, the destruction of a statue of St. Junipero Serra deeply troubles me.

The Church, by no means, desires injustice to go unanswered, but two wrongs do not make a right. If we cannot acknowledge the good of a saint such as Junipero Serra, we risk preferring ideology to the truth. We should acknowledge St. Junipero’s efforts to protect the natives at the missions from harm, his efforts to offer them what he treasured most in the world, a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. The work of evangelization—carried out by flawed human beings—is to see all united in Christ where there is no Greek or Jew, there is no division, and all are seen and treated as the unique and beloved children of God the Father. St. Junipero Serra is a great example of that legacy, flawed like all of us, but striving with heroic virtue toward a vision of reconciliation and faith.

Tearing down statues of St. Junipero represents a perilous trend of demonizing the good works of others in the name of ideology. Such destruction reveals a dangerous capacity in the human heart for hatred of the other.  It risks unleashing the worst of humanity. Christians and all people of goodwill ought to look for ways to build, not destroy.  St. Junipero, pray for us that we may continue to build a civilization of peace and justice.

June 20, 2020 A recent news article published in the Spokesman-Review highlighted the fact that a suspended priest of the Diocese of Spokane, Theodore Bradley, continues to present himself as a priest in good standing – using the title “Father” and wearing clerical garb.  It has been clearly communicated to the 94 year-old Bradley that he is to refrain from presenting himself as a priest. Bishop William Skylstad initially removed Theodore Bradley from priestly ministry in 1994 after an accusation of sexual misconduct by a teenage girl which was investigated and deemed credible. Using the 2002 newly created provisions of the US Conference of Catholic Bishop’s Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, Bishop Skylstad permanently removed Bradley from ministry that same year.  This penalty means that Bradley is not to present himself as a priest, he cannot publicly celebrate the sacraments, nor may he wear priestly garb.  The 2002 penalty included the order that Bradley live out the remainder of his life in private prayer and penance.  Theodore Bradley was once again reminded of these severe restrictions in a 2011 letter written by Bishop Blase Cupich. After my installation as Bishop of Spokane I took the opportunity to remind Bradley of these restrictions as well.