Update from Bishop Michael C. Barber, SJ

OAKLAND (CA)
Diocese of Oakland [Oakland, CA]

September 12, 2025

• Update from Bishop Michael C. Barber, SJ Sept. 12, 2025
  
  The Holy Name of Mary
   
  Dear Catholic Faithful of the Diocese of Oakland,
  
  May the peace of Jesus Christ continue to be with you all!
  
  As many of you have seen, in our bankruptcy we recently offered the 345 survivors of sexual abuse a compensation package of $165 million.  Of the $165 million, $160 million would be used to compensate known claims, which results in a per-capita average recovery in excess of $463,000 for each survivor — an offer which constitutes a new record high in church-side settlement contributions for all diocesan bankruptcies with over 200 survivor claims.  This amount does not include monetary contributions from our insurers, but we have also offered to give our insurance rights to the survivors so they can choose to pursue their own insurance recoveries.  If accepted, this proposal would stretch our limited resources to the absolute maximum, but we believe it would fairly and reasonably compensate all survivors who have suffered so much.   
  
  We have done our best to put forward a fair and just offer, putting the needs of our survivors first and foremost.  The goal of our good faith settlement offer was to ensure all survivors receive compensation, not just those survivors who win the race to the state courthouse.  In the meantime, we continue to aggressively pursue additional recoveries from our insurers, who received millions of dollars in premium payments and who need to do the right thing and compensate the survivors. 
  
  Regrettably, the tens of millions spent on both sides’ attorney fees and other extensive administrative expenses of the bankruptcy case has bled our resources without achieving a settlement.   We unfortunately lack the resources to continue the bankruptcy process if we do not reach a settlement very soon.  We ask for your prayers first and foremost for the continued healing of the survivors, who are innocent.  We also ask for your prayers that a just and fair settlement be reached as soon as possible with both the survivors’ representatives and our insurers.
  
  Mary the Mother of God, who remained with her son Jesus Christ at the foot of the Cross through his suffering and death, ora pro nobis !
  
  Yours sincerely in Christ, 
  
  The Most Reverend Michael C. Barber, S.J. 
  Bishop of Oakland