AG Ferguson announces investigation into Seattle Catholic Church

Ferguson opened the investigation into church jurisdictions across the state last summer.

Associated Press,My Bellingham NowWashington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson speaks at a news conference in Seattle. The state of Washington announced Thursday, Dec. 21, that it is expanding a lawsuit against cable and internet provider Comcast and accusing the company of discarding recorded customer service calls that the attorney general claims is evidence of the company's alleged deceptive sales practices. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File)

SEATTLE, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – State Attorney General Bob Ferguson is taking the Catholic Church to court for its handling of child sex abuse allegations.

Ferguson announced on Thursday, May 9 that his office has filed a petition against the Seattle Archdiocese to enforce a subpoena in King County Superior Court. He says the church has refused to cooperate with a probe into whether three Washington dioceses misused charitable funds to cover up child sex abuse allegations by priests.

Ferguson opened the formal investigation into church jurisdictions in Seattle, Spokane and Yakima in the summer 2023.

The Seattle diocese did not respond to his request to access accounting and financial records, which is what prompted the announcement on Thursday, May 9.

It comes after two groups, Ending Clergy Abuse and Catholic Accountability Project, gathered outside the AG’s office in February calling for an investigation into the church.

Ferguson is asking anyone who has been impacted by clergy abuse to contact his office.