OLYMPIA (WA)
Source One News [Quincy WA]
May 9, 2024
Yakima – The Diocese of Yakima, along with the Seattle and Spokane dioceses, has come under the investigative lens of Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson. The investigation focuses on whether these dioceses have used charitable funds to obscure allegations of child sex abuse by clergy members. While the Seattle Archdiocese has already faced legal action for non-compliance, the Yakima Diocese remains under close observation as the investigation progresses.
Attorney General Ferguson, expressing disappointment in the lack of cooperation from the Catholic Church, emphasized the need for transparency. “Washingtonians deserve a public accounting of how the Catholic Church handles allegations of child sex abuse, and whether charitable dollars were used to cover it up,” Ferguson stated. He stressed that the goal is to uncover the truth and provide a voice to the survivors.
The investigation was triggered by concerns that the Seattle Archdiocese had historical knowledge of abusive behavior by certain priests and might have used resources to protect the abusers. This included Father Michael J. Cody, who was reportedly known to the Seattle Archdiocese as an abuser for decades yet was continually moved across parishes.
Survivor advocacy is a significant aspect of the unfolding scenario. Esther Lucero-Miner, a survivor, shared her painful experience and backed the Attorney General’s investigation. “It is long overdue in my opinion and will be an important step in the healing that our Church deserves,” she remarked.
Heal Our Church, an advocacy group, has called for full cooperation from the Church. The group urges the release of all relevant records to aid the investigation, stating that both church members and survivors “deserve no less.”
The legal framework underpinning the investigation allows the Attorney General’s Office to probe how organizations utilize charitable funds, particularly looking into the misuse by religious organizations under the guise of the Charitable Trusts Act.
If any diocese, including Yakima, is found to have violated the law, Ferguson’s office is prepared to implement stringent oversight measures and ensure protective mechanisms for children in the future.
With the Yakima Diocese overseeing churches in Grant, Douglas, Chelan, Kittitas, and Adams Counties, local communities are particularly concerned about the outcome. The investigation is poised to reveal more as it moves forward, especially with the court’s hearing of the Seattle Archdiocese’s case scheduled for May 22.