In brief: Bishop urged to skip pope visit

The bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Yakima should forgo Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to the United States next week as penance for continued secrecy surrounding sexual misconduct allegations against priests and diocese employees, a national support group for clergy sex abuse victims said.

In a letter Thursday to Bishop Carlos Sevilla, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests also said skipping the pope’s visit might deter future recklessness by other church officials.

“By passing up this trip, and doing so in the name of accountability, you would send a powerful signal to others in the church that wrongdoing has consequences,” the letter said.

“Otherwise, with no consequences, the message that Catholic employees and laity get is, ‘Put kids at risk, be secretive about it, get caught, and all you have to do is apologize.’ ” the letter said. “That is a dangerous message.”

The controversy centers on the hiring of a former seminarian in 2003 who was known to be under investigation over child pornography accusations.

Police arrested the man on an outstanding warrant last month.

The group known as SNAP also chastised Sevilla for his handling of a former Yakima priest, who transferred to Oregon and was arrested on sexual assault charges against a 14-year-old girl. The priest pleaded guilty and was deported, SNAP said.

Sevilla had planned to attend events surrounding the pope’s visit Tuesday through April 20 in Washington, D.C., and New York. But he may have to remain in Yakima to attend to a funeral, said Monsignor John Ecker, pastor of St. Paul Cathedral in Yakima, speaking for the diocese.

Spokane

Crime Stoppers wants tips on man

A man who’s been convicted 35 times is wanted by the Washington Department of Corrections for escape from community custody.

A reward is being offered for information that leads to the arrest of Darrell B. Hudson, 39. His record includes convictions for possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, failure to return to work release, driving while suspended, theft and probation violations, according to Crime Stoppers.

Call the Crime Stoppers Tip Line with information about Hudson at (509) 327-5111 or forward the tip via www.crimestoppers inlandnorthwest. org.

Tipsters do not have to give their name to collect the reward but should provide the operator with a code name or number.

Vox seeks grads with potential

The Vox, a monthly newspaper produced by area teens, is looking for suggestions for “Five graduates who will change the world,” a feature story to run in the final Vox edition of the school year.

The story will feature five Spokane-area high school graduates who promise to improve the world.

We’re not necessarily looking for the college-bound student with the perfect grade-point average. There are a variety of ways a graduate might go out and change the world, such as determination, drive, overcoming adversity, helping others, or going above and beyond the call of duty.

This isn’t a contest; it’s a story. Please send your suggestions to help us write it by April 25 to Vox adviser Erin Daniels at erind@spokesman.com or 999 W. Riverside Ave., Spokane, WA 99210. Nominees must be graduating from a Spokane-area high school this year; Vox staff members are ineligible.

Gregoire’s bus has Oregon plates

Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire’s big biodiesel campaign bus has Oregon plates.

State Republican Chairman Luke Esser, who brought it to reporters’ attention Thursday, said it’s a symbolic reminder that Democrat Gregoire is throwing small businesses under the bus.

Gregoire used the bus as a photogenic part of her campaign tour of 10 cities this week. The GOP is circulating photos that show Oregon plates on the big rig and also British Columbia tags on the front.

Esser said Washington has one of the worst small business failure rates in the country, and that Gregoire isn’t helping with missteps like that.

Debra Carnes, the governor’s campaign spokeswoman, said the bus was rented from a Washington company.

Seaside, Ore.

Warning sirens to be replaced

The Seaside sirens will soon be silenced.

The city is installing new tsunami warning sirens in six locations throughout Seaside.

The sirens will only sound in an actual emergency, providing some quiet to residents accustomed to weekly Wednesday night tests under the old system.

At a recent City Council meeting, some officials worried that the weekly testing had become a possible hazard. City Councilman David Moore said locals tune out the sound after several years of hearing it.

The new sirens were paid for through a $175,000 federal grant.