[5] In 1847, dissident Cayuse tribesman killed 11 Protestant missionaries and kidnapped others in southeastern Washington in what became known as the Whitman massacre.

[12] While the canonical decree was signed in December of 1913, the news was publicly broken by The Catholic Bulletin in the Diocese of Saint Paul on February 7, 1914.

The second bishop of Spokane was Monsignor Charles Daniel White from the Diocese of Grand Rapids, named by Pope Pius XI in 1927.

[12] In early 1955, Pius XII named Reverend Bernard Joseph Topel of the Diocese of Helena as coadjutor bishop to assist White.

To replace Topel, Pope John Paul II named Reverend Lawrence Welsh of Helena in 1978.

[22] To replace Skylstad, Pope Benedict XVI selected Bishop Blase J. Cupich of the Diocese of Rapid City in 2010.

[23] In 2011, Cupich discouraged priests and seminarians in his diocese from participating in demonstrations in front of Planned Parenthood clinics or supporting 40 Days for Life, an anti-abortion movement that conducts vigils at facilities that offered abortion services.

In 2012, Cupich supported the decision of Gonzaga University to invite Anglican Bishop Desmond Tutu to speak at its graduation ceremonies and receive an honorary degree, against which the Cardinal Newman Society and others active in the anti-abortion movement were protesting.

[25] In a February 19, 2020, statement, Daly wrote that he was concerned by the Gonzaga University School of Law's establishment of an LGBTQ+ Rights Clinic without first consulting him.

"[28] He condemned the "horrific and unjustified" murder of George Floyd and outlined steps that the diocese would take with Catholic Charities to address racism.

In December 2004, the Diocese of Spokane declared Chapter 11 Bankruptcy to manage the claims of people credibly abused by its priests.

The money for the settlement was to come from insurance companies, the sale of church property, contributions from Catholic groups and from the diocese's parishes.