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Community gathers to bid farewell to local civil rights leader Rev. Happy Watkins: ‘He went wherever his love could help somebody’

“Unwavering,” “an inspiration” and “devoted pastor” were just a few of the words and phrases used to describe the late Rev. Percy “Happy” Watkins Friday as hundreds gathered at Life Center church to celebrate the life of one of Spokane’s most prominent civil rights and spiritual leaders.

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Faith and Values: Following election, let us be reminded that real understanding starts with listening

Mon., Nov. 11, 2024

I committed journalism’s cardinal sin this year: I put a blue “Harris for President” sign in my yard.

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Faith and Values: Biden’s formal apology to Native tribes for boarding schools was long past due

UPDATED: Tue., Nov. 5, 2024

It was heartfelt, emotional and long past due.

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Spokane’s Catholic bishop denounces gender-affirming care in the name of religion, spurring concern from a local hospital

UPDATED: Tue., Oct. 22, 2024

In a recent statement, Diocese of Spokane Bishop Thomas Daly reportedly said he plans to confront Catholic hospitals and clinics that offer gender-affirming care to children.

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Faith and Values: ‘Do not reject God by rejecting your Haitian neighbor’: Immigrants from island nation escape crises to face unfounded stereotypes, strife in Ohio

Mon., Oct. 21, 2024

Pope Francis recently called on us to remember the people of Haiti, saying, “I ask everyone to pray for the cessation of all forms of violence and, with the commitment of the international community, to continue working to build peace and reconciliation in that country, always defending the dignity and rights of all.”

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Latter-day Saints church plans temple for Coeur d’Alene; faith membership has been on the rise across Inland Northwest

UPDATED: Fri., Oct. 11, 2024

Mike Strock remembers driving from Sandpoint to Spokane Valley last winter to go to a wedding at the region’s only Latter-day Saints temple when a fluke storm blew in, bringing with it hail so strong it split his windshield.

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Faith and Values: Our hearts and our minds must align this election

Tue., Oct. 8, 2024

I’m an old learner and hope to keep it going for a while, to wrinkle my brain at the rate of my skin. It’s not a bad hobby if you can get into it; there’s always something to learn about. The trick is to not confuse knowledge with wisdom. I call it the Curse of Socrates, who said, “The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.” The humility of humanity is right here.

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Faith and Values: Wear your bracelets and vote, kids

Mon., Sept. 23, 2024

Note: This is one of Paul Graves’ occasional letters to his grandchildren.

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Spokane pastor calls for healing a divided nation in opening prayer in House of Representatives

UPDATED: Sat., Sept. 21, 2024

WASHINGTON – When the House of Representatives convened at the Capitol on Friday, the opening prayer was delivered not by the House chaplain but by a Spokane pastor who prayed for national healing in a divisive time for the United States.

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Faith and Values: Death of mentor is reminder it’s never too early to reach out and say thank you

Mon., Sept. 9, 2024

Sometimes we cross paths with souls so pivotal they redefine our existence. For me, my former journalism professor, Patti Dobson, was one of those people.

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Newport’s Sravasti Abbey to feature online Buddhist scholars series

Fri., Sept. 6, 2024

This month, Sravasti Abbey in Newport, Washington, will be hosting an online series featuring prominent Buddhist scholars to honor the legacy of Jeffrey Hopkins, renowned Tibetologist and former interpreter for the Dalai Lama, who died on July 1.

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Faith and Values: This Season of Creation let us be mindful of the environment

Mon., Sept. 2, 2024

Before the official start of autumn on Sept. 22 there’s a special season that many Christians – including us at the Center for Benedictine Life at the Monastery of St. Gertrude – will be celebrating.

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Faith and Values: Conservatives and liberals live in the same skin

Mon., Aug. 26, 2024

Jesus said this to the followers of John the Baptist: “Neither is new wine put into old wineskins; otherwise, the skins burst, and the wine is spilled, and the skins are destroyed; but new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved” (Matthew 9:17, NRSV).

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Faith and Values: Launching a community class focused on religious literacy

UPDATED: Sun., Aug. 11, 2024

Recently, I wrote about the Religion Reporting Class I launched at Washington State University, offering students a hands-on approach to understanding faith communities. The course combines classroom learning with guest speakers and field trips to local houses of worship, providing aspiring journalists with firsthand experiences of religious practices and traditions.

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Faith and Values: We walk in beauty with the world, spiritually or otherwise

Mon., Aug. 5, 2024

In a June backyard interfaith discussion, we were trying to decide what topic to take on next when our attention was caught by freshly popped orange-red poppies. “I see God in such a beautiful display,” said one in our group. So, we decided to focus on beauty.

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Faith and Values: A bias called compassion

Mon., July 22, 2024

She didn’t say a word until just before our group conversation was over. A small group of Christians and non-Christians gathered in Spokane to explore some of the implications of one of my recent Faith and Values columns, “Indifference makes a difference.”

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Faith and Values: ‘Godliness with contentment is great gain,’ but that doesn’t mean not investing where you should

Mon., July 8, 2024

Growing up I never really yearned for the same things my friends did.

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Faith and Values: Church’s apology for involvement with Native boarding schools is too little too late

Mon., July 1, 2024

On June 14, U.S. Catholic bishops apologized for the mistreatment and trauma caused through the church’s role in Native American boarding schools.

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Faith and Values: From freedom’s birthplace to Freedom Summer

Mon., June 24, 2024

The park ranger set the scene in the Pennsylvania State House (now Independence Hall). She told of the Continental Congress debating whether to declare independence from Britain in 1776.

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Faith and Values: LGBTQ+ survey seeks to give queer community a voice while providing state officials with demographic insights

Mon., June 10, 2024

In a pioneering effort to better understand the LGTBQ+ community, this Pride month marked the launch of the first comprehensive survey of the state’s queer residents.

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Faith and Values: Hardships give us opportunities to grow and become more resilient

UPDATED: Sun., June 2, 2024

Life is rarely predictable. It is a journey fraught with threads of joy, sorrow, triumph and defeat. And while we often crave stability and certainty, the truth is that unexpected changes and disappointments are inescapable. They can leave us feeling blindsided, disoriented and emotionally adrift. We may find ourselves reeling from the injustice, hurt and profound sense of loss. Yet, within these hardships, lies the potential for growth and resilience.

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