December 14th 2024.
On Friday, in a U.S. bankruptcy courtroom, several survivors of clergy abuse bravely stood up to confront Bishop Michael C. Barber of the Diocese of Oakland. With raw emotion, they shared their harrowing experiences of being groomed, raped, and terrorized by Catholic priests in the East Bay for many years.
The hearings, which lasted for two days, gave 15 victims the opportunity to share their stories and allegations in court as the diocese works to settle around 350 lawsuits that have been brought against them in recent years. The diocese has proposed paying at least $117 million over the course of several years into a trust for the victims, but their attorneys have strongly criticized this offer, calling it "a scam and a sham."
During the hearing, the survivors looked directly at Bishop Barber, who was seated only a few feet away, as they pleaded with the diocese to do right by the hundreds of victims who are suing the church. Some of these brave individuals had not even shared their experiences with their own families.
One woman shared that she was just 7 years old when she was molested by a priest during a confessional in Pinole. As a result, she turned to drugs to cope with the trauma. Another survivor described how he stopped dreaming at a young age after being raped and suffering physical injuries that still impact him today.
Many of these victims grew up in devout Catholic families who, despite their modest incomes, sacrificed to send their children to Catholic school. They were taught that priests were representatives of God and their words were law. One woman tearfully recounted being repeatedly undressed and molested by a priest, causing her to become resentful, angry, and a shell of her former self. The trauma she endured has even affected her ability to have children and her fear of being touched by a doctor.
These stories reveal the long-lasting effects of the abuse and how it has impacted every aspect of these survivors' lives. And the pain continues, as one woman shared how the fear of being touched by a doctor led to a delayed diagnosis of her breast cancer, a disease that could have been caught earlier.
Bishop Barber took the stand near the end of the two-hour hearing and offered a sincere and unconditional apology to the victims, acknowledging their feelings of anger, repulsion, and anguish. He condemned the priests who committed these heinous acts as "evil-doers" and acknowledged their "gravest betrayal" of their parishioners.
This hearing comes as the diocese is going through Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings, brought on by a flood of lawsuits alleging widespread sexual abuse by clergy. Similar cases have been filed against other dioceses across the state, leading to bankruptcy filings as well. However, victim advocates have criticized these bankruptcy filings, as they effectively pause any litigation while the diocese's finances and assets are reviewed by a bankruptcy judge.
The proposed settlement by the Diocese of Oakland includes a trust for abuse victims totaling at least $117 million, as well as a Livermore property that could increase the trust's value by $43 to $81 million. Additionally, all rights and interests of the diocese's insurance policies would go to the trust, potentially allowing victims to seek compensation from the church's insurers.
However, the victims' advocates have called this offer "ridiculous" and "pathetic," as it is significantly less than other approved settlements. In the past, a settlement involving the Oakland diocese disbursed $1 million per victim, and more recently, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles settled for $880 million for 1,350 victims.
After the hearing, the victims' attorneys and advocates criticized Bishop Barber's statement as "hollow" and shifting the blame onto the abusers rather than acknowledging the role of enablers. They called for actions, not just words, from the diocese to truly make amends for the harm caused by the church's priests. One survivor even directly asked the bishop to do the right thing and consider what Jesus would do in this situation.
As the survivors continue to seek justice and healing, it is clear that the effects of this abuse will linger for a lifetime. And it is up to the diocese to take responsibility and do what is right for these brave individuals who have come forward to share their stories.
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