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Roman Catholic Diocese of Oakland

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The Diocese of Oakland (Latin: Diœcesis Quercopolitana) is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory, or diocese, of the Catholic Church in the San Francisco Bay Area of California in the United States. It is a suffragan diocese in the ecclesiastical province of the metropolitan Archbishop of San Francisco.

Diocese of Oakland

Diœcesis Quercopolitana
Cathedral of Christ the Light
Coat of arms
Location
Country United States
TerritoryCounties of Alameda and Contra Costa
Ecclesiastical provinceArchdiocese of San Francisco
Statistics
Area1,467 sq mi (3,800 km2)
Population
- Catholics
550,000[1]
Parishes84
Schools54
Information
DenominationCatholic
Sui iuris churchLatin Church
RiteRoman Rite
EstablishedJanuary 13, 1962
CathedralThe Cathedral of Christ the Light
Patron saintMary, Queen of the World, Francis de Sales
Current leadership
PopeFrancis
BishopMichael C. Barber
Metropolitan ArchbishopSalvatore J. Cordileone
Vicar GeneralGeorge Mockel
Bishops emeritusJohn S. Cummins
Map
Website
oakdiocese.org

The Diocese of Oakland comprises Alameda and Contra Costa Counties. Its mother church is the Cathedral of Christ the Light in Oakland. Its patron saints are Mary, mother of Jesus and Francis de Sales.[2]

The diocese filed for bankruptcy in May 2023 due to the cost of lawsuits by victims of child sex abuse by the diocese's clergy.

History

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Name changes

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The East Bay area has undergone several different Catholic jurisdictions since it became part of the United States.

  • Diocese of the Two Californias (1840 to 1849)
  • Diocese of Monterey (1849 to 1853)
  • Archdiocese of San Francisco (1853 to 1962[3]
  • Diocese of Oakland (1962 to present)

1772 to 1840

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Mission San José is the location of the first parish.

The first known mass in the Eastern Bay region was celebrated in 1772 by the missionary Juan Crespí near present-day Lake Merritt during the first European visit there. The Mission San José was established in 1797 by Fermin de Lasuen in present-day Fremont to evangelize the Chochenyo people. By this time, California had become part of the Spanish Empire.[4]

After the Mexican War of Independence ended in 1821, California became a part of Mexico. After the passage of the Mexican secularization act of 1833, the Mexican Government in 1836 stripped Mission San José, along with other missions, of their vast properties.[4]

In the 1820s the Peralta family, a large landowner of present-day Alameda County, built a chapel at Rancho San Antonio, their ranch in present-day Oakland. Served by priests from Mission San José, the chapel was named Saint Anthony's. This was the first Catholic presence in Oakland.[5]

1840 to 1883

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After the Mexican–American War in 1850, California became part of the United States. In 1853, Bishop Joseph Alemany of Monterey moved to San Francisco to become the first archbishop of San Francisco.[3] At that time, Mission San José was the only parish in the East Bay area. The East Bay area would remain part of the archdiocese for the next 109 years.

In 1858, Alemany sent James Croke to establish St. Mary, Immaculate Conception Parish in Oakland. The first church in San Leandro was St. Leander's Church, dedicated in 1864 to serving a growing Portuguese immigrant population.[6] The archbishop in 1869 formed All Saints Parish in Hayward, composed mainly of immigrant families. Its church was dedicated in 1923.[7] St. Michael's parish, the first in Livermore, was established in 1872.[8] In 1893, Saint Francis de Sales Church was dedicated in Oakland. St. Joseph's Church, the first Catholic church in Berkeley, was dedicated in 1883.[5]

1883 to 2003

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In 1962, Pope John XXIII erected the Diocese of Oakland, taking Alameda and Contra Costa counties from the Archdiocese of San Francisco. The pope named Auxiliary Bishop Floyd Begin of the Diocese of Cleveland as the first bishop of Oakland.[9] When Begin started his tenure, the new diocese had a Catholic population of approximately 386,000 Catholics.[10] Saint Francis de Sales Church was designated as the cathedral. During the 1970s. the cathedral parish was known for developing what was called the "Oakland Cathedral Sound". Begin died in 1977.[11]

The second bishop of Oakland was Auxiliary Bishop John Stephen Cummins from the Diocese of Sacramento, named by Pope Paul VI in 1977.[12] The 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake caused catastrophic damage to Saint Francis de Sales Cathedral and Sacred Heart Church. Facing a repair cost of $8 million for both facilities, Cummins opted to demolish them and plan a new cathedral instead. Auxiliary Bishop Allen Vigneron from the Archdiocese of Detroit was named coadjutor bishop by Pope John Paul II in early 2003 to assist Cummins.[13]

Since 2003

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When Cummins retired in later 2003, Vigneron automatically replaced him as bishop. In 2005, ground was broken for the new $131 million Cathedral of Christ the Light on Lake Merritt in Oakland. It opened in 2008.

To replace Vigneron, who had become archbishop of Detroit, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Auxiliary Bishop Salvatore Cordileone of the Diocese of San Diego as the next bishop of Oakland.[14] In 2011, Cordileone was made chairman of the American Bishops' conference's Ad Hoc Committee for the Defense of Marriage.[15] A year later, Cordileone became archbishop of San Francisco.

Pope Francis in 2013 named Reverend Michael C. Barber as the next bishop of Oakland.[16] In 2014, Barber transferred two pastors, one of whom was openly gay, from Newman Hall Holy Spirit Parish in Berkeley. Barber refused to provide any explanation for the transfers to the pastors or to the parishioners.[17][18] In 2019, Barber positioned himself against the proposed California State Senate Bill 360, which would require priests to break the seal of confession and report sexual abuse of minors. He was quoted "I will go to jail before I will obey this attack on our religious freedom."[19]

In May 2023, the diocese filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.[20]

Statistics

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As of 2020, the Diocese of Oakland served an estimated Catholic population of 560,000. The diocese had 84 parishes and 16 pastoral centers.[21] The diocese celebrates mass in 15 different languages including Spanish, American Sign Language, Vietnamese, Filipino, and Latin (Mass of Paul VI and Tridentine Mass).

Publications

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The Diocese of Oakland publishes The Catholic Voice, its official newspaper, on a semi-monthly basis.[22]

Sexual abuse scandals

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St. Francis de Sales Cathedral

Linda Chapin was awarded $3 million in a 2004 sexual abuse settlement reached with the diocese. She had accused Francis, pastor of St. Bede Parish in Hayward, of raping her "ritualistically and sadistically" several times, beginning when she was six years old. Chapin called on the diocese to "name all the priests that there are credible allegations against."[23]

In 2005, Reverend Tim Stier from Corpus Christi Catholic Parish in Fremont resigned in protest at the failure of the diocese to address sexuality problems in priests. Stier described the diocese as hiding or ignoring the child sex abuse cases, and not holding its leaders accountable. He said,

"It's not as if I'm a perfect person and I don't have weaknesses and sin. But there is a level of dishonesty and arrogance in this that just tells me we need systemic, radical change."[24]

In 2005, court papers revealed how the diocese handled sexual abuse allegations against Stephen Kiesle, a diocese priest. Eight victims had accused KIesle of sexually abusing them in the 1970s. In 1978, Kiesle had pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of lewd conduct for tying up and molesting two boys in a church rectory.[25] The diocese had relieved him of his priestly functions, but allowed him to continue work in the diocese.[26] In February 1982, Bishop Cummins wrote to Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, then head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in Rome, forwarding a request from Kiesle to be laicized. After complying with a request for more information, Cummins heard nothing from Ratzinger until 1985. At that point, Ratzinger told Cummins would take more time as he considered what was good for the church.[27] That same year, Kiesle started working as youth minister in a parish in Pinole. He served there for several years until a worker at the church complain to the diocese about Kiesle's conduct.[26] Kiesle was laicized in 1987.[28] In 2004, he was sentenced to six years in prison for sexually abusing a 13-year-old girl in Truckee.[29]

In 2005, the diocese settled its outstanding sexual abuse lawsuits for $56 million. The eight victims of abuse by Kiesle each received between $1 million and $1.5 million.[28][30] Diocese insurance carriers covered some 57% of these payments.[30] Bishop Vigneron in 2008 opened a Healing Garden at the Cathedral of Christ the Light, dedicated to victims of clergy sexual abuse.[30]

By 2008, at least 64 Roman Catholic clergy and religious had been accused of molesting children.[31] At that time, the diocese had only acknowledged 12 clergy with credible accusations of sexual abuse.[31] The following clergy had been accused of multiple instances of sexual abuse:

  • Reverend Vincent Breen[31]
  • Reverend George Francis[31]
  • Reverend James Clark
  • Reverend Arthur Ribeiro
  • Reverend Robert Freitas
  • Reverend Gary Tollner
  • Reverend Robert Ponciroli
  • Reverend Donald Broderson
  • Reverend Stephen Kiesle.[31]

By 2009, the diocese had paid $60.5 million to victims of sexual abuse, the largest payments being made in 2004 and 2005.[32]

In 2010, Teresa Rosson sued the diocese, claiming that Kiesle had sexually abused her, starting when she was an 11-year-old girl in 1972. Kiesle had married her mother in 1982. Rosson said that the diocese should have removed Kiesle from contact with parishioners when he was originally convicted in 1978.[33]

The California Supreme Court in 2012 ruled against a 2007 sexual abuse lawsuit brought by the six Quarry brothers against the diocese. The brothers claimed to have been sexually abused in the early 1970s by Reverend Donald Broderson. The court stated that since the one-year extension on the expired statute of limitations had ended, the brothers could not sue the diocese. Broderson was laicised in the 1990s.[34]

In July 2020, Reverend Varghese Alengadan from St. Joseph Basilica in Alameda was charged with committing sexual battery against a woman in 2019. Alengadan never showed up in court and was considered a fugitive.[35] After the alleged victim filed her accusation against Alegadan in early 2020, the diocese had suspended him from ministry.[36] In December 2020, the diocese paid $3.5 million to settle a lawsuit brought by a former seminarian who claimed he was raped by a diocesan priest in Livermore in 2017.[37]

The diocese filed for bankruptcy in May 2023, saying that 330 new sexual abuse lawsuits had been filed against it since 2020.[38][39] Filing for bankruptcy or Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection has been criticised as a way to put further cases on indefinite hold. Chapter 11 protection avoids numerous costly individual trials, grouping them into one settlement. There is no discovery process about such matters as what church leaders knew as in a trial. Abuse survivors have called this a way to silence them. Joseph Piscitelli, a 1970s victim in the diocese of Oakland whose 2020 case was put on hold when the diocese declared bankruptcy in 2023, said "Oakland could get together enough money to build a $200m cathedral not too long ago, but they can't get the money together to pay the child victims whom they raped for decades".[40]

Bishops

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Bishops of Oakland

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  1. Floyd Lawrence Begin (1962–1977)
  2. John Stephen Cummins (1977–2003)
  3. Allen Henry Vigneron (2003–2009), appointed Archbishop of Detroit
  4. Salvatore Cordileone (2009–2012), appointed Archbishop of San Francisco
  5. Michael C. Barber, S.J. (2013–present)

Parishes

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Main article: List of churches in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Oakland

Education

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The Diocese of Oakland administers 39 elementary/middle schools and nine high schools serving over 17,000 students.[41]

High schools

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Elementary schools

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  • All Saints – Hayward
  • Assumption – San Leandro
  • Corpus Christi – Piedmont
  • Christ the King – Pleasant Hill
  • Dominican Kindergarten – Fremont
  • Holy Spirit – Fremont
  • Holy Rosary – Antioch
  • Our Lady of Grace – Castro Valley
  • Our Lady of Guadalupe – Fremont
  • Queen of All Saints – Concord
  • St. Raymond – Dublin
  • School of the Madeleine – Berkeley
  • St. Agnes – Concord
  • St. Anthony – Oakland
  • St. Bede – Hayward
  • St. Catherine of Siena – Martinez
  • St. Clement – Hayward
  • St. Cornelius – Richmond
  • St. David – Richmond
  • St. Edward – Newark
  • St. Elizabeth – Oakland
  • St. Felicitas – San Leandro
  • St. Francis of Assisi – Concord
  • St. Isidore – Danville
  • St. Jarlath – Oakland
  • St. Joachim – Hayward
  • St. John – San Lorenzo
  • St. John the Baptist – El Cerrito
  • St. Joseph – Alameda
  • St. Joseph – Fremont
  • St. Joseph - Pinole
  • St. Lawrence O'Toole – Oakland
  • St. Leander – San Leandro
  • St. Leo – Oakland
  • St. Martin de Porres – Oakland
  • St. Mary – Walnut Creek
  • St. Michael – Livermore
  • St. Patrick – Rodeo
  • St. Paul – San Pablo
  • St. Perpetua – Lafayette
  • St. Peter Martyr – Pittsburg
  • St. Philip Neri – Alameda
  • St. Theresa – Oakland

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Clark, Monica (May 22, 2013). "New Oakland bishop inherits huge debt, frustrated clergy". National Catholic Reporter. Archived from the original on November 12, 2016. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
  2. ^ "Diocese of Oakland | St Margaret Mary".
  3. ^ a b "Monterey in California (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  4. ^ a b "History of Our Diocese". Diocese of Oakland CA. Retrieved 2023-05-18.
  5. ^ a b Morrison, Harry B (1978). "History of Saint Josephs Parish Berkeley CA 1878-1979" (PDF). St. Joseph the Work Church. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  6. ^ "St. Leander's (San Leandro): Early Church History". Portuguese Historical Museum. Retrieved 2023-05-18.
  7. ^ "All Saints Church (Hayward)". Portuguese Historical Museum. Retrieved 2023-05-18.
  8. ^ "147 Years of Parish History". St. Michael Catholic Church. Retrieved 2023-05-18.
  9. ^ "Oakland (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
  10. ^ "BISHOP FLOYD BEGIN, OF OAKLAND, IS DEAD; Sought K. of C. Charter in '54 for Cleveland Interracial Council". The New York Times. 1977-04-27.
  11. ^ "Bishop Floyd Lawrence Begin". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.
  12. ^ "Bishop John Stephen Cummins". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.
  13. ^ Yonke, David (January 6, 2009). "Archbishop appointed to Detroit diocese". The Blade. Toledo, Ohio. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  14. ^ "Archbishop Salvatore Joseph Cordileone [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
  15. ^ "California bishop appointed chairman for Marriage Defense Committee". Catholic News Agency. January 5, 2011.
  16. ^ "Bishop Michael Charles Barber [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
  17. ^ Levin, Sam (11 March 2014). "Bishop Michael Barber Speaks Out on Changes at Berkeley's Newman Hall". East Bay Express. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  18. ^ Levin, Sam (5 March 2014). "Gay Priest Ousted by Conservative Bishop". East Bay Express. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  19. ^ Morris, Emily (2019-05-27). ""I will go to jail before I will obey"". California Catholic Daily. Retrieved 2021-10-09.
  20. ^ Rodgers, Jakob (May 8, 2023). "Diocese of Oakland files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy". East Bay Times. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  21. ^ "Diocese of Oakland". Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  22. ^ "The Catholic Voice".
  23. ^ Burress, Charles (January 26, 2004). "CA woman makes plea to victims of clergy abuse: Diocese of Oakland has agreed to pay her $3 million". San Francisco Chronicle. www.snapnetwork.org. Retrieved September 4, 2010.
  24. ^ Jones, Jonathan (November 28, 2005). "Questioning Tradition Leads to Priest's Exile". Inside Bay Area. Fremont, California: bishop-accountability.org. Retrieved September 4, 2010.
  25. ^ Flaccus, Gillian (April 10, 2010). "Future pope resisted efforts to remove priest: Letter cites man's youth, need for review". The Boston Globe. Associated Press. Retrieved September 4, 2010.
  26. ^ a b Woodall, Angela (August 18, 2010). "Two lawsuits filed against Diocese of Oakland". Oakland Tribune. Archived from the original on March 16, 2012. Retrieved September 4, 2010.
  27. ^ McKinley, Jesse; Zezima, Katie (2010-04-12). "Oakland Priest's Accuser Describes Sexual Abuse". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-05-18.
  28. ^ a b Hollyfield, Amy (April 9, 2010). "Former Bishop sends letter to defrock Stephen Kiesle". KGO-TV. ABC. Retrieved September 4, 2010.
  29. ^ Raymore, Paul (2004-03-01). "Former priest sentenced to six years for molestation". www.sierrasun.com. Retrieved 2023-05-18.
  30. ^ a b c Cordileone, Salvatore (April 26, 2010). "Bishop details local, Vatican actions in Kiesle case". The Catholic Voice. 48 (8). Oakland.
  31. ^ a b c d e Dennis, Rob; Jeremy Herb; Matthew Artz; Chris De Benedetti (March 30, 2008). "Sins, secrets and denial: Diocese underreported scope of abuse allegations". The Oakland Tribune. Bay Area News Group. Archived from the original on March 16, 2012. Retrieved August 23, 2010.
  32. ^ Gerstman, Bruce (August 5, 2005). "Oakland diocese settles abuse lawsuits for $56 million". The Seattle Times. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  33. ^ Lee, Henry K. (2010-08-19). "Alleged abuse victims sue Oakland Diocese". SFGATE. Retrieved 2023-05-18.
  34. ^ "High court applies statute of limitations in California abuse suit". Catholic News Agency. March 31, 2012. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  35. ^ Gafni, Matthias (July 18, 2020). "East Bay Catholic priest charged with sexual battery against woman". SFChronicle.com.
  36. ^ Press • •, Associated (2020-07-21). "Warrant Issued for East Bay Priest Who Failed to Show". NBC Bay Area. Retrieved 2023-05-18.
  37. ^ "Oakland Diocese Pays $3.5M to Settle Sex Abuse Lawsuit". NBC Bay Area. December 9, 2020. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  38. ^ "Oakland 2nd California diocese to seek bankruptcy over abuse". AP News. May 8, 2023. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  39. ^ "Oakland Diocese faces 330 sex abuse lawsuits; ponders bankruptcy". KTVU FOX 2. 2023-03-17. Retrieved 2023-05-18.
  40. ^ Buller, Robin (12 November 2023). "Catholic dioceses are declaring bankruptcy. Abuse survivors say it's a 'way to silence' them". The Observer.
  41. ^ "About". Catholic Schools Diocese of Oakland. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  42. ^ "Find a School". Catholic Schools Diocese of Oakland. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
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