Diocese of Oakland Seeks to Cram the Bishop’s Plan on Hundreds of Sexual Abuse Survivors
“This is not a reorganization plan. This is the Bishop’s shell game – it’s a scam and a sham.” – Jeff Anderson
(Oakland, CA) – Today, the Diocese of Oakland announced their reorganization plan which would impact over 370 sexual abuse survivors of the Diocese of Oakland. This announcement comes after they officially filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy in May, 2023. The plan is comprised of millions from the Diocese and some additional funds. The Diocese is trying to force a plan on survivors without their approval or consent.
“The Bishop’s reorganization plan is a familiar playbook designed to suppress survivors’ voices and avoid accountability.” – Jeff Anderson
According to research and public data, we believe the Diocese of Oakland’s bankruptcy filings undervalued its assets to deceive the people, the parishioners, the public, and the survivors.
“The data doesn’t lie – the Bishop does.” – Jeff Anderson
1. The Diocese of Oakland Bishop owns and controls:
- 80 parishes | 9 cemeteries | 8 funeral centers
- 49 schools (9 of which are under the name of Lumen Christi Academies)
2. Real estate portfolio valued at approximately $3.4 billion
3. The Diocese transferred approximately $100 million prior to filing their petition.
a. In 2021 the Diocese said they had over $205 million dollars in cash and liquifiable investments.
b. Two months after filing a petition, they identified only $100 million in assets. This means over $100 million conveniently “disappeared” in a two-year period.
c. $200 million Cathedral and acres of land in multiple locations (Piedmont, Orinda, Lafayette, Danville, etc.)
d. 2,000 land parcels and hundreds of buildings.
i. Conservative appraisal over $1 billion.
e. Santa Maria parish in Orinda generates approximately $400,000 in annual income from renting unneeded buildings to tenants.
f. The Official Catholic Directory indicates that approximately 40 Oakland parishes do not have pastors, indicating those church rectories are unneeded. If placed on the market, those buildings would generate between $40 and $100 million.
Sources: SNAP Network, National Review, Diocese of Oakland.
“The plan put forward by the Oakland Bishop smacks of fraud and deceit.” – Jeff Anderson
Statement from Cathy, Oakland Sexual Abuse Survivor
When I lost my innocence, I was a child and had no control over the priest who molested me. The church did nothing to protect me. In fact, they fed me to a predator. The church provided the prey and let the predators pick and choose their prey at will – over and over again. To this day, no one wants to know what happened to me and not once has the church apologized to me or asked if I’m okay. There would be so many fewer victims if the church had done the right thing.
Courage defined is the ability to do something that frightens you. And I’m afraid every single day. The Diocese lacks true courage. The survivors who stand against the injustices perpetrated and perpetuated by the Diocese of Oakland are the courageous ones.
I believe the Diocese will pay the lowest amount they can. They are before this court looking for a discount on my pain. On our pain. The church protects its money and reputation more than its children. No amount of money will make me whole and restore the child that was damaged in one moment.
They will put this behind them while I come home to an empty house and quell my demons. The Diocese will continue on and will never fully compensate me for a life I wasn’t able to have, for a life I will never have, for a life thousands of unknown, voiceless victims will never have.
In the Bishop’s letter to “the faithful Catholics and friends of the Diocese of Oakland” he asks for prayers for the survivors, but his words are hollow and my trust is gone.