News Release Archives

2018 News Releases

Official Appointments Announced

September - 2018  -  Official appointments announced in the Archdiocese of Seattle.

Official Appointments Announced

June - 2018  -  Official appointments announced in the Archdiocese of Seattle.

2017 News Releases

Pope Francis Names Oklahoma Priest as Seattle Auxiliary Bishop

APRIL 6, 2017 - The Vatican today announced that Pope Francis has appointed Msgr. Daniel Henry Mueggenborg as auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Seattle. Msgr. Mueggenborg is a priest of the Diocese of Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he has served as pastor of Christ the King Church since 2011.

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2016 News Releases

Washington's Catholic Bishops: "Poverty has a face"

NOVEMBER 17, 2016 - The Catholic bishops of Washington state today released a letter expressing their concern that poverty is reaching “crisis proportions” and called on all people to take direct action in solidarity with those who are homeless, mentally ill, addicted and hungry.

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Official Appointments Announced

May - 2016  -  Official appointments announced in the Archdiocese of Seattle.

Archdiocese Settles Eight Clergy Abuse Cases for $9.1M

MARCH 23, 2016 -  The Archdiocese of Seattle announced today that it has reached settlement with eight women who were sexually abused as children by Michael Cody. The victims were abused by Cody, a former archdiocesan priest, while he was serving in Whatcom and Skagit County parishes between 1968 and 1974. 

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Archdiocese Discloses Names of Child Sex Abusers

JANUARY 15, 2016 - The Archdiocese of Seattle today published a list of clergy and religious accused of sexual abuse of a minor who have served or resided in Western Washington. The individuals named on the list posted to the archdiocesan website have allegations that are either admitted, established or determined to be credible.   

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2015 News Releases

Official Appointments Announced

July - 2015  -  Official appointments announced in the Archdiocese of Seattle.

Archbishop J. Peter Sartain on Laudato Si

JUNE 18, 2015 - n his encyclical letter, Laudato Si, Pope Francis has put a human face on the issue of ecology and caring for creation. This teaching document, which is consistent with the teaching of his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI and other recent popes, is an urgent call to Christians, people of other faith traditions and those of no faith to protect our earthly home and our brothers and sisters who inhabit it.

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Pageantry of annual fleet blessing marks start of fishing season

JUNE 1, 2015 - Seattle Archbishop J. Peter Sartain will preside at the Blessing of the Fleet celebration originating in downtown Gig Harbor at 1 p.m. Sunday, June 7.The colorful celebration begins with the sounding of church bells, and the procession under police escort from Saint Nicholas Parish to Jerisich Park, where Archbishop Sartain will lead a brief prayer service before boarding a boat and laying two wreaths honoring fishermen who have died in the past year and in hope for a safe season and bountiful catch.

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Catholic Relief Services commits $10 Million to Nepal response

MAY 5, 2015 - Catholic Relief Services is committing at least $10 million to help those affected by the earthquake in Nepal. Funds may be donated locally through the Archdiocese of Seattle Missions Office and will be used for immediate life-saving assistance as well as long-term rebuilding efforts. 

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2014 News Releases

Priest Placed on Leave for Financial Policy Violation

DECEMBER 6, 2014 - The Archdiocese of Seattle today announced discovery of violations of archdiocesan financial policies by one of its priests. 

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Bellevue School Receives National Inclusion Award

JULY 23, 2014 -  Dan Sherman, principal at St. Madeleine Sophie School in Factoria, has received the Edward M. Shaughnessy III Serving All God’s Children Award for Inclusion.

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Archdiocese Names New Catholic Schools Leader

JULY 1, 2014 -  The Catholic Archdiocese of Seattle announced today the appointment of Patrick Haggarty as superintendent of the archdiocesan Office for Catholic Schools. 

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Official Appointments Announced

JULY - 2014  -  Official appointments announced in the Archdiocese of Seattle.

Archdiocese Announces Settlement

June 24, 2014 - The Archdiocese of Seattle announced today that it settled 30 claims of sexual abuse by members of the Christian Brothers at two institutions managed by the order in western Washington.

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Archdiocesan Statement Regarding Harry Quigg

MAY 9, 2014 - In 2004, Archbishop Alex J. Brunett asked the the Archdiocesan Case Review Board to review the cases of 13 accused priests, including Father Harry Quigg.

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Archdiocese to Host Regional IRS Meetings

MARCH 24, 2014 -  The IRS has volunteered to be present for six regional gatherings throughout the Archdiocese of Seattle over the next two weeks to provide information about tax identity fraud.

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Response to Mark Zmuda Complaint

MARCH 7, 2014 -  The Archdiocese of Seattle will ask the court to dismiss Mark Zmuda’s claim against it. In his complaint, Mr. Zmuda correctly acknowledges that the Archdiocese of Seattle is separately incorporated from Eastside Catholic School.

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Bishops Call Death Penalty Moratorium a Positive Step

FEBRUARY 13, 2014 -  The Catholic bishops of Washington State applauded Gov. Jay Inslee’s decision to impose a moratorium on executions during his term of office and added their support for a broad public conversation on capital punishment.

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Bishops Urge Action on Immigration Reform

JANUARY 7, 2014 - Washington bishops are urging the state’s Catholics to participate in National Migration Week Jan. 5-11 through prayer and action.  

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Statement Regarding Eastside Catholic High School Personnel Action

JANUARY 15, 2014 - This morning a petition signed by numerous people around the country was delivered to the offices of the Archdiocese of Seattle seeking the reinstatement of Mark Zmuda, the former vice-principal of Eastside Catholic High School. 

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2013 News Releases

Catholic Bishops Support Background Checks for Gun Sales

DECEMBER 2, 2013 - In a joint statement the Catholic bishops of Washington state said requiring background checks on all firearm sales represents “a prudent balance between concerns for personal liberty and public safety.”

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Archbishop Urges Prayer, Action in Response to Typhoon

NOVEMBER 13, 2013 - Seattle Archbishop J. Peter Sartain encouraged Catholic parishes throughout Western Washington to provide information to their parishioners on how to support the emergency response to Typhoon Haiyan through Catholic Relief Services (CRS). 

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Archdiocese Heeds Pope Francis' Call for Philippine Aid

NOVEMBER 11, 2013 - Pope Francis led prayers Sunday for people hit by a deadly typhoon in the Philippines and surrounding region, and asked that concrete aid be sent soon. 

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Bishop Urge Comprehensive Coal Project Review

NOVEMBER 11, 2013 - The Catholic bishops of Washington state are calling on public agencies responsible for reviewing a proposed coal terminal operation in Longview to consider the full range of potential environmental effects from the project. 

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Retired Archbishop Alexander J. Brunett Suffered A Stroke

SEPTEMBER 13, 2013 - Retired Seattle Archbishop Alexander J. Brunett suffered a stroke on Thursday, Sept. 12. He was admitted to Overlake Hospital in Bellevue and underwent successful surgery Thursday evening. 

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Catholic Bishops Call For Action On Immigration Reform

SEPTEMBER 6, 2013 - The Catholic bishops of Washington on Tuesday urged members of the state’s delegation in the U.S. House of Representatives to support comprehensive immigration reform. Legislation passed earlier this year by the U.S. Senate is now being considered in the House of Representatives.

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WA Catholic Bishops Urge Comprehensive Immigration Reform

AUGUST 29, 2013 - The Catholic bishops of Washington state today released a pastoral statement urging Congress and all citizens to work to end the human suffering associated with the nation’s immigration laws. The bishops said human dignity must be the starting point for comprehensive immigration reform.

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New Catholic Magazine To Reach 125,000 Homes

AUGUST 23, 2013 -  Beginning with its inaugural September 2013 edition, NORTHWEST CATHOLIC, a full-color bilingual magazine, will be mailed free of charge to all registered Catholic households in the Archdiocese of Seattle. The magazine is the centerpiece of a new archdiocesan communications initiative approved earlier this year by Archbishop J. Peter Sartain. 

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Court Decision Raises Concerns About the Central Role of Marriage

JUNE 27, 2013 - Seattle Archbishop J. Peter Sartain and Auxiliary Bishop Eusebio Elizondo today expressed concern about The U.S. Supreme Court decision June 26 striking down part of the Defense of Marriage Act and refusing to rule on the merits of a challenge to California’s Proposition 8.

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Catholic Bishops Release Immigration Statement

JUNE 27, 2013 - This week, the U.S. Senate will consider final passage of S. 744, the Border Security, Economic Competitiveness, and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013, comprehensive immigration reform legislation. It is a critical moment for millions of immigrant families and for the country.

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Catholic Bishops Release Statement About Scout Policy

JUNE 21, 2013 - The Catholic Church teaches that all people are to be treated with dignity and respect.

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Archbishop to Celebrate Mass of Thanksgiving

FEBRUARY 26, 2013 - Archbishop J. Peter Sartain will celebrate a Mass of thanksgiving Thursday, Feb. 28, the final day of Pope Benedict XVI’s pontificate, at 12:10 p.m. in St. James Cathedral.

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Archbishop Sartain on Resignation of Pope Benedict XVI

FEBRUARY 11, 2013 - “Like so many Catholics here and around the world, I received the news of Pope Benedict’s decision to resign with strongly mixed feelings. His decision is clearly a very personal, spiritual one, and it expresses his unfailing care and concern for the Church he has served tirelessly throughout his life."

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New O'Dea Principal

FEBRUARY 7, 2013 - The O’Dea High School Board of Directors announced today that Archbishop J. Peter Sartain has approved Jim Walker, who was named acting principal prior to the start of the current academic year, as principal of the school.

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2012 News Releases

Statement Regarding O'Dea High School

OCTOBER 31, 2014 - The O’Dea High School Board learned today that Brother Karl Walczak has been accused of sexual abuse of a minor. Brother Walczak, who denies the allegations, has resigned his position as principal of O’Dea.

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Statement Regarding Scheduled Aug 12 March in Support of Religious Women

AUGUST 11, 2012 - The Holy See and the Bishops of the United States are deeply proud of the historic and continuing contribution of women religious to our country through social, pastoral and spiritual ministries; Catholic health care; Catholic education; and many other areas where they reach out to those on the margins of society.

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Seattle Archbishop Testifies Against Measure to Redefine Marriage

JANUARY 23, 2012 - Archbishop J. Peter Sartain of Seattle urged opposition to SB 6239, which would alter the current legal definition of marriage, in testimony before the Senate Government Operations, Tribal Relations & Elections Committee today.  

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