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Catholic bishops vow to resist blue state law intruding on ‘sacred’ trust: ‘Obey God rather than men’

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The Catholic bishops of Washington state are resisting a new law signed by Democratic Governor Bob Ferguson that they say would violate the seal of confession, which would result in excommunication for any priest who complies.

Spokane, Washington, Bishop Thomas Daly released a statement in response to the law in which he said that he and his priests «are committed to keeping the seal of confession – even to the point of going to jail.»

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The new law, signed last week by Democratic Gov. Bob Ferguson, who is Catholic, added «members of the clergy» to a list of professionals who are required to report information that relates to child abuse or neglect to law enforcement, and the measure does not provide an exception for information offered at a confessional. The law is set to go into effect on July 26.

A central tenet of the Catholic sacrament of confession is that priests are bound by an absolute seal of confidentiality, an obligation that requires them to keep anything learned in confession a secret. Violating this tenet results in what is called «excommunication,» which cuts a person off from the church and eternal life, according to Catholic teaching. 

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The Catholic bishops of Washington state are resisting a new law signed by Democratic Governor Bob Ferguson that they say would violate the seal of confession, which would result in excommunication for any priest who complies. (Chona Kasinger/Bloomberg via Getty Images and iStock)

While Daly said that his diocese has a zero-tolerance policy regarding child sexual abuse and that the church would «do everything within our power to keep your children safe,» he said the «Sacrament of Penance is sacred and will remain that way in the Diocese of Spokane.»

Seattle Archbishop Paul Etienne framed the issue as a question of whether the clergy is «answerable to God or state.»

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He quoted a scripture passage that reads, «We must obey God rather than men.»

«This is our stance now in the face of this new law. Catholic clergy may not violate the seal of confession – or they will be excommunicated from the Church,» said Etienne, adding: «All Catholics must know and be assured that their confessions remain sacred, secure, confidential and protected by the law of the Church.»

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Democrat Bob Ferguon won the 2024 Washington state governor’s race, defeating Republican challenger Dave Reichert. (Getty Images)

Etienne said that the law cuts to the heart of the First Amendment’s ban on the state either establishing or prohibiting the free exercise of a religion.

«Once the state asserts the right to dictate religious practices and coerce information obtained within this sacrament – privileged communication – where is the line drawn between Church and state? What else may the state now demand the right to know? Which other religious practices will it try to legislate?» asked the archbishop.

On Monday, the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division opened an investigation into the law for possible violations of the First Amendment’s religious protections.

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A statement by the division said that the new law «singles out ‘members of the clergy’ as the only ‘supervisors’ who may not rely on applicable legal privileges, including religious confessions, as a defense to mandatory reporting.»

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Archbishop Paul Etienne is the leading Catholic cleric for the city of Seattle. (Reuters/Chris Helgren)

«The law appears to single out clergy as not entitled to assert applicable privileges, as compared to other reporting professionals,» said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.

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«We take this matter very seriously and look forward to Washington State’s cooperation with our investigation,» said Dhillon.

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Bishop Joseph Tyson of Yakima, Washington, posted on Facebook that he was grateful for the Justice Department’s investigation, saying that the bishops’ attempts to meet with the governor about the law had gone unanswered.

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«I realize that many may disagree but in a way that parallels attorney client privilege, the seal of confession allows the penitent to come to grips with moral accountability and culpability,» said Tyson. «We want to hope and pray that the heart of an offender would be so moved by the mercy of God and the guidance of the skilled clergy that it would necessarily lead to an encounter beyond the sacramental seal with law enforcement.»

Ferguson did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

Fox News Digital’s Landon Mion contributed to this article.

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Las acciones que más ganaron y las que tuvieron peores resultados en Wall Street en 2025

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Los logotipos de Nvidia y OpenAI. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic

El índice S&P 500 cerrará 2025 con un avance superior al 17%, consolidando un ciclo alcista de tres años impulsado por el entusiasmo en torno a la inteligencia artificial. Este año, la tendencia ligada al sector se amplió. Las acciones de empresas de semiconductores volvieron a liderar el índice, acompañadas por compañías vinculadas a la construcción de centros de datos, fundamentales para el desarrollo tecnológico. Entre los diez valores con mejor desempeño en 2025, tres corresponden a firmas de almacenamiento de datos, beneficiadas por el compromiso de los principales proveedores de servicios en la nube, conocidos como hyperscalers, que han anunciado inversiones por más de 440.000 millones de dólares en los próximos doce meses para fortalecer sus capacidades en inteligencia artificial.

El liderazgo tecnológico experimentó un giro, según el balance anual: las compañías asociadas a la gestión y construcción de infraestructura de datos protagonizaron el crecimiento. Gigantes como Microsoft Corp., Amazon.com Inc., Alphabet Inc. y Meta Platforms Inc. figuran entre los principales impulsores de estas inversiones. Empresas como Sandisk Corp., Western Digital Corp. y Seagate Technology Holdings Plc se ubicaron entre las cuatro acciones más rentables del S&P 500.

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La composición del índice también registró novedades relevantes. En 2025, se sumaron firmas como Robinhood Markets Inc., Sandisk, AppLovin Corp. y Carvana Co., todas con revalorizaciones de tres dígitos, situándose entre los veinte mejores rendimientos del año. No todas las incorporaciones resultaron exitosas: Trade Desk Inc. fue la de peor desempeño, con una caída cercana al 70%, mientras que Block Inc. retrocedió más del 20% y Coinbase Global Inc. perdió más del 6%.

El entusiasmo por la inteligencia artificial también favoreció a Palantir Technologies Inc., que registró un alza porcentual de tres dígitos por tercer año consecutivo, impulsada por el interés de inversores minoristas y la gestión de su consejero delegado, Alex Karp. Actualmente, la acción cotiza a más de 180 veces sus beneficios futuros, ubicándose como la tercera más cara del índice, solo detrás de Tesla Inc. y Warner Bros. Discovery Inc.

La escalada de Warner Bros. Discovery Inc. rozó el 175% a raíz de especulaciones sobre una potencial venta. En octubre, la compañía inició un proceso formal de venta, con Paramount Skydance Corp. y Netflix Inc. como principales interesados. El consejo de administración de Warner Bros. manifestó su preferencia por la oferta de Netflix, mientras que Larry Ellison, presidente de Oracle Corp. y padre del consejero delegado de Paramount, respalda personalmente la propuesta rival.

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El logo de Microsoft en las oficinas de Microsoft en Issy-les-Moulineaux, cerca de París, Francia. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes

En contraste, la incertidumbre económica y la política comercial de la administración del presidente estadounidense Donald Trump, caracterizada por la imposición de aranceles, afectó negativamente a compañías de consumo y al sector sanitario. Acciones de firmas como Clorox Co., Lamb Weston Holdings Inc., Campbell’s Co. y Constellation Brands Inc. se posicionaron entre las veinte con peores resultados del año. Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. sufrió una caída cercana al 40% tras dos años de avances consecutivos.

El entorno adverso también perjudicó a empresas minoristas. Deckers Outdoor Corp., propietaria de las marcas Hoka y Ugg, perdió casi la mitad de su valor, interrumpiendo una racha alcista de nueve años debido a previsiones de resultados débiles y recortes en las recomendaciones de analistas. Lululemon Athletica Inc. encadenó su segundo descenso anual de doble dígito, con una caída próxima al 45%, en medio de un proceso de reestructuración tras la salida de su consejero delegado y la entrada del fondo activista Elliott Investment Management, que adquirió una participación superior a 1.000 millones de dólares.

El sector de seguros de salud tampoco logró recuperarse a pesar de las expectativas de un cambio regulatorio. Molina Healthcare Inc. retrocedió más del 40% por segundo año consecutivo. UnitedHealth Group Inc. y Centene Corp. perdieron más del 30%, situándose entre los veinticinco peores valores del S&P 500. Algunos inversores, como el gestor Michael Burry, consideran que las valoraciones actuales podrían anticipar una recuperación y ven potencial en adquisiciones para 2026 si los precios se mantienen bajos.

(Con información de Bloomberg)



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Here’s where Trump launched airstrikes around the world in 2025: ‘Protect the homeland’

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Though touting himself as the peace president, President Donald Trump has also not been afraid to unleash lethal rocket strikes on U.S. enemies when he feels the need arises.

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In 2025, Trump ordered strikes on nine different countries and regions in the interest of furthering U.S. national security.

Here are the countries, groups and regions that felt the power of the U.S. military in action this year.

Somalia terrorists targeted

Throughout the year, the U.S. has continued to conduct airstrikes against ISIS factions and al-Shabaab in Somalia.

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According to a U.S. Africa Command statement, a Feb. 1 airstrike targeting a series of cave complexes in northern Somalia killed 14 ISIS-Somalia operatives, including Ahmed Maeleninine, a key ISIS recruiter, financier, and external operations leader responsible for deploying militants into the U.S. and across Europe.  

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President Donald Trump has targeted Venezuelan drug boats with military strikes. (@realDonaldTrump via Truth Social/AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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Houthis in Yemen

Thousands of miles from U.S. sovereign territory, the Trump Department of War unleashed lethal strikes on Iran-backed Houthi terror fighters in Yemen as part of a mission dubbed «Operation Rough Rider.» The strikes were in response to attacks against U.S. military and commercial vessels traveling through the Red Sea.

Sean Parnell, a spokesperson for the Department of War, said in May that U.S. Central Command strikes had been carried out since March and that they had «hit over 1,000 targets, killing Houthi fighters and leaders and degrading their capabilities.»

Parnell called the strikes «hugely successful.» On May 6, the Houthis agreed to a ceasefire with the U.S. and the fighters have not carried out any attacks on U.S. vessels since, though they have targeted ships from other nations.

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Top ISIS leader killed in Iraq

On March 13, U.S. Central Command carried out an airstrike in Iraq’s Al Anbar province that killed the number two ISIS leader, Abdallah Makki Muslih al-Rifai, and another ISIS operative.

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Plane takes off from USS Harry S. Truman

This image shows an aircraft launching from the USS Harry S. Truman in the Red Sea before airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen, on March 15. (U.S. Navy via AP)

Midnight Hammer targets Iran’s nuclear capabilities

At Trump’s direction, the U.S. military launched a strike on three Iranian nuclear sites in a mission that went from June 21 to 22.

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During the operation, called «Midnight Hammer,» B-2 stealth bombers departed from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri and dropped over a dozen bunker buster bombs and launched more than two dozen Tomahawk missiles on key Iranian nuclear sites.

According to the Pentagon, the strikes decimated Iran’s nuclear capabilities and led to a ceasefire between Iran and Israel. The operation, however, was highly controversial, with some Democratic lawmakers accusing Trump of escalating tensions and downplaying the effectiveness of the strikes.

Iran launched a counterattack on the U.S. Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, but there were no reported casualties.

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Cartel drug boat strikes in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific

As part of what the Department of War dubbed «Operation Southern Spear,» the U.S. unleashed 33 strikes on drug boats traveling in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific, killing over 100 traffickers.

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President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social on Friday that he ordered a lethal strike on a vessel linked to a designated terrorist organization operating in the U.S. Southern Command’s area of responsibility.

President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social in September that he ordered a lethal strike on a vessel linked to a designated terrorist organization operating in the U.S. Southern Command’s area of responsibility. (@realDonaldTrump via Truth Social)

The strikes garnered significant criticism, with some Democrats accusing Secretary of War Pete Hegseth of war crimes. The Pentagon described the operation as a counter-narco-terrorism campaign against designated terror organizations «taken in defense of vital U.S. national interests and to protect the homeland.»

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Operation Hawkeye in Syria

In response to two U.S. servicemembers being killed in Syria, the U.S. unleashed Operation Hawkeye on Dec.19. U.S. and allied forces employed more than 100 precision munitions targeting over 70 known ISIS infrastructure and weapons sites across central Syria, resulting in the deaths or detention of 23 terrorist operatives.

Hegseth called the airstrikes «a declaration of vengeance» in direct response to the ISIS attack that took place on Dec. 13 in Palmyra, Syria.

According to Central Command, U.S. and partner forces in Syria have conducted operations during the last 12 months that resulted in more than 300 terrorists being detained.

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Christmas night strikes in Nigeria

On Christmas night, the U.S. launched strikes on ISIS-linked military forces in coordination with the Nigerian government in Sokoto State, in northwestern Nigeria.

Trump said he ordered U.S. airstrikes in northwest Nigeria against ISIS militants who he says, «have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years.»

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Attorney General Pam Bondi, Vice President JD Vance, War Secretary Pete Hegseth, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and President Donald Trump in the Oval Office

US Attorney General Pam Bondi, Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem look on as US President Donald Trump speaks to the press on Aug. 25, 2025.  (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

Trump takes drug war to Venezuela proper

Following months of escalation with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, this week Trump appeared to suggest the U.S. carried out a strike on drug operations inside Venezuela.

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Speaking with reporters on Monday, he said, «There was a major explosion in the dock area where they load the boats up with drugs. They load the boats up with drugs, so we hit all the boats, and now we hit the area. It’s the implementation area. That’s where they implement. And that is no longer around.»

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Putin residence attack video slammed; US officials say Ukraine did not target leader

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Russia’s Defense Ministry on Wednesday released nighttime video footage it claimed shows the wreckage of a Ukrainian drone intercepted during an attempted attack on a residence used by President Vladimir Putin.

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The video, filmed in a snow-covered, forested area in Russia, shows a Russian serviceman standing over debris that Moscow said belongs to a Ukrainian-made Chaklun-V drone.

Russian officials also said the drone was shot down before it could strike Putin’s residence near Lake Valdai in the Novgorod region and was carrying a six-kilogram explosive device that failed to detonate.

The footage was released as Moscow faced mounting skepticism over its account of events.

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PUTIN REJECTS KEY PARTS OF US PEACE PLAN AS KREMLIN OFFICIAL WARNS EUROPE FACES NEW WAR RISK: REPORT

Satellite imagery shows Vladimir Putin’s residential complex in Roshchino, Novgorod Region, Russia Aug. 31, 2023.  (Planet Labs PBC/Handout via Reuters)

The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that U.S. national security officials concluded Ukraine did not target Putin or any of his residences in the alleged drone incident.

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The Journal said the finding was supported by a CIA assessment that determined no attempted attack on Putin occurred, citing a U.S. official briefed on the intelligence.

Instead, Ukraine, they said, was believed to be targeting a military site it had previously struck in the same region but not near Putin’s residence, the official said.

Ukrainian officials have continued to reject the allegations, with a military drone expert claiming the video provided little evidence of an attempted strike on one of Russia’s most heavily secured locations.

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UKRAINE SAYS IT CARRIED OUT FIRST-EVER UNDERWATER DRONE STRIKE ON RUSSIAN SUBMARINE IN NOVOROSSIYSK

drone and russian serviceman

Russia releases drone footage of the alleged Ukraine attack on Putin’s residence. (Russian Defence Ministry/Handout via Reuters )

«This footage, unfortunately, does not offer proof of anything other than that there is a wrecked drone on the ground somewhere being stood over by a Russian serviceman,» Draganfly CEO Cameron Chell told Fox News Digital.

Chell, whose firm supplies drones to the U.S. Department of Defense and its allies, said the drone shown in the video looked ill-suited for such a mission.

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«The attacks that occurred on Dec. 29 were also hundreds of kilometers away,» he added.

«The engines on the drone in this new footage are very small, and though capable of multiple hours of flight with the type of fixed-wing drone displayed, it would be extremely slow and unsophisticated.

«This drone is not untypical of many Ukraine drones, but these would only be used for infrastructure targets and woefully ineffective in an attack on a facility the likes of Putin’s residence,» Chell concluded.

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PUTIN SAYS RUSSIA WON’T LAUNCH NEW ATTACKS ON OTHER COUNTRIES ‘IF YOU TREAT US WITH RESPECT’

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The Russian Defense ministry shows a downed drone after an alleged drone attack on Putin’s residence. (Russian Defense Ministry/Handout via Reuters )

Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi also dismissed the footage as «laughable,» saying Kyiv was «absolutely confident that no such attack took place,» according to Reuters.

Russia alleges the drone was part of a broader Ukrainian operation targeting Putin’s residence earlier this week.

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Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov asserted 91 drones had been intercepted en route to Putin’s residence, a figure that appeared to conflict with earlier Defense Ministry statements.

The ministry initially reported that 89 drones were shot down across eight regions, including 18 over Novgorod, before revising the numbers upward. 

RUSSIA ALLEGES ATTACK ON PUTIN RESIDENCE AS UKRAINE DENIES CLAIM AHEAD OF TRUMP TALKS

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Ukraine drones battlefield

A Ukrainian air intelligence soldier carries a drone in the direction of Bakhmut, Ukraine, May 10, 2024. (Diego Herrera Carcedo/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Only after Lavrov’s remarks did the Defense Ministry claim that 49 drones intercepted over Bryansk — nearly 300 miles from Valdai — were also targeting the presidential residence.

The ministry initially reported that 89 drones were shot down across eight regions, including 18 over Novgorod, before revising the numbers upward. 

The timing of the allegations has also drawn scrutiny, coming shortly after what Moscow described publicly as a positive meeting between President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Florida.

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Zelenskyy also called the alleged drone attack a «complete fabrication,» saying it was designed to justify further Russian strikes and undermine diplomatic efforts.

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Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov rejected Ukraine’s denials and said Moscow would toughen its diplomatic stance.

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Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House for comment.



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