Tracy Simmons
Tracy Simmons serves as the editor and community manager of Spokane Faith & Values.
Some protest, others celebrate Roe v. Wade with festive meals
Update: Washington voters reject genetically modified foods measure
Washington voters weigh the ethics of genetically modified foods
Pork-laced bullets designed to send Muslims straight ‘to hell’
Victims raise profile of ‘spiritual abuse’
Audio Slideshow: Spokane mass celebrates new pope
Audio Slideshow: Welcoming a sister
U.S. mosques struggle with shortage of imams
Lesbian answers bishop’s call for dialogue on gay marriage
SPOKANE, Wash. (RNS) The Catholic bishop here has asked for an honest dialogue about same-sex marriage, so Charlene Strong was happy to take him up on his offer, telling a Catholic campus why the state's domestic partnership law was insufficient when her partner of 10 years was dying. By Tracy Simmons.
Woman crusades to save sister’s life, end the death penalty
SPOKANE, Wash. (RNS) Victoria Ann Thorpe's sister has been on death row for 18 years for a crime she says she didn't commit. Now Thorpe is leading a grass-roots campaign to abolish the death penalty in Washington state, saying Jesus would never tolerate it. "Nothing that he did or said can be manipulated into harshness," she said. By Tracy Simmons.
Washington churches told not to collect funds for gay marriage fight
SPOKANE, Wash. (RNS) Churches in Washington state are being reminded that collecting money for a political cause is not OK -- including a high-stakes ballot battle over gay marriage. By Tracy Simmons.
Can conservatives overcome Washington’s secular bent to ban gay marriage?
SPOKANE, Wash. (RNS) Conservative activists are confident they can overturn the state's gay marriage law this November, but one thing might get in the way — the more than 4 million voters in the state who are "unchurched." By Tracy Simmons.
Sravasti Abbey a dream fulfilled for American Budddhist nuns
NEWPORT, Wash. (RNS) Just outside of town, Sravasti Abbey is one of the only monastic communities in the West for Americans to study the Buddha's teachings. The abbey now has five U.S.-born, fully ordained nuns, which allows ceremonies to be held. By Tracy Simmons.
Pro-Tutu petitions flood Gonzaga
(RNS) After nearly 700 people tried to push Gonzaga University to rescind its commencement speaker's invitation to Archbishop Desmond Tutu, supporters of the anti-apartheid hero responded with 11,000 signatures of their own. By Tracy Simmons.
Alumni don’t want Desmond Tutu to speak at Gonzaga
SPOKANE, Wash. (RNS) A group of alumni at Gonzaga University is pressing the school to rescind an invitation to Archbishop Desmond Tutu as commencement speaker, saying the anti-apartheid activist supports abortion and homosexuality. By Tracy Simmons.
