OAKLAND (CA)
Mercury News
October 8, 2018
By Matthias Gafni
Following vows from Catholic churches in the South Bay, the Diocese of Oakland said Monday it too will launch an independent investigation into clergy sex abuse and name priests credibly accused of abusing children as part of worldwide church effort to address the scandal.
Similar to the San Jose diocese effort, Oakland diocese Bishop Michael C. Barber announced that former FBI executive Assistant Director Kathleen McChesney and her firm Kinsale Management Consulting will assist his office in reviewing clergy files and audit the processes. He said the first list of predator priests would be released in about 45 days, and that McChesney’s “full review” of church files will be completed “by the first of the year.”
“This is the latest step in the ongoing commitment of the Diocese of Oakland to stop the scourge of sexual abuse of minors and vulnerable adults,” Barber wrote in a letter to parishioners. “This public accountability will allow you and others in our community to see we are keeping our promises. We have nothing to hide. It is the right thing to do.”
Barber said his diocese would release the list of names, which would include “diocesan, religious order and extern priests.”
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