SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — A federal judge has reversed a contempt of court order against the Catholic Diocese of Spokane.
It’s a rare victory for the diocese in the long-running legal action involving sexual abuse by priests.
U.S. District Judge Justin Quackenbush said the contempt finding was erroneously ordered in February by U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Patricia Williams. His decision frees the diocese and its law firm from $52,000 in fees and costs.
But the diocese still faces foreclosure on some parish property to pay sex abuse claims.
