Catholics Tired of Recurring Accusations of Clergy Sexual Abuse
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VOL. 57, NO. 3 DIOCESE OF OAKLAND FEBRUARY 4, 2019 www.catholicvoiceoakland.org Serving the East Bay Catholic Community since 1963 Copyright 2019 Catholics tired of recurring accusations of clergy sexual abuse By Albert C. Pacciorini Staff writer A lively, respectful group of about 100 people met with two representatives of the Diocese of Oakland to discuss the issue of clergy sexual abuse and its coverup at St. Joan of Arc Church in San Ramon the evening of Jan. 22. Steve Wilcox, chancellor of the diocese, and Rev. Jayson Landeza outlined the historical issues of clergy sexual abuse while saying the evening would be mostly questions from the audience. Repeatedly, audience members drove home a theme: people, especially the young, are avoiding the Church in vast numbers, older people are falling away. They see the Church as unresponsive in meeting the needs of the gay and transgender community and not doing enough to end clergy sexual abuse. We’ve heard all this before, many said: People’s lives COURTESY PHOTO COURTESY have been ruined. Families are ruined. We’re tired of the About 50 people from St. Joseph Basilica, Alameda, were at the Walk for Life West Coast. Leading up to the apologies and repetition. Do something now.” walk, there were two hours a day for five days of Adoration for Life. On Jan. 26, about 30 walkers gathered Wilcox said he hopes the diocese can release its list at the basilica for a blessing prior to carpooling to BART and were joined by others at the walk. Walkers of credibly accused clergy on Feb. 18. While many will be included some from St Joseph Notre Dame High School and from the Young Families group. familiar names, there may be one or two not previously widely known. Rev. Ray Sacca, St. Joan of Arc pastor, opened the evening with prayer, and noted Catholics are expressing Peaceful, positive, personal messages outrage at the renewed abuse revelations. As chancellor of the diocese, Wilcox explained, part of his job is to aid victims of abuse and to prevent it from mark Walk for Life West Coast happening. Wilcox and Father Landeza offered a presentation By Christina Gray recounting the recent history of clergy sexual abuse, from Catholic San Francisco Be part of the the Oakland diocese’s first apology service in the 1980s, SAN FRANCISCO — A throng of upbeat pro-life sup- (Continued on Page 11.) porters, some from as far away as Colorado, Arizona counter-revolution and Tennessee, swarmed the streets of downtown San Read Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone’s Francisco Jan. 26 carrying a wide array of messages homily on Page 7. calling for an end to abortion. A crowd in the tens of thousands poured into Civic Center Plaza on a springlike winter day for the 15th There were a handful of spontaneous hecklers, includ- annual Walk for Life West Coast, which marked the 46th ing a man who stood near the cable car turnaround on anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Roe. v. Wade Market Street and shouted, “Go to hell” at the procession. decision legalizing abortion. But neither he nor a costumed group of about a dozen The event kicked off with prayer, pro-life speakers and more organized counterprotesters distracted the walkers, the amplified fetal heartbeats of seven babies whose many of whom smiled and waved at the provocateurs. mothers stood on the event stage holding bullhorns con- For many, the day had begun with morning Mass at St. nected to their pregnant bellies. Mary’s Cathedral celebrated by San Francisco Archbishop “Babies saving babies,” said Walk for Life chair Eva Salvatore J. Cordileone, where about 2,900 received holy Muntean. “The babies are here to save their peers.” Communion. Later in the plaza at the start of the rally, he A woman allowed to see an image of her unborn baby led marchers in a prayer from the event stage. on an ultrasound screen or to hear its heartbeat will often “Give us the courage to speak the truth with love and choose not to abort, pro-life advocates say. conviction in defense of life,” he said. Despite a heavy police presence, the two-mile march Chastity Ronan, former director of San Francisco’s from Civic Center Plaza down Market Street to Embarcadero Alpha Pregnancy Center, took the stage to accept the Plaza appeared as peaceful as organizers had hoped. At Gianna Molla Award created for local “unsung heroes” times it felt more like a celebration than a demonstration. of the pro-life movement. VOICE CATHOLIC PACCIORINI/THE C. ALBERT “This is not a day for confrontation,” Dolores Meehan, St. Gianna Beretta Molla (1922-1962) was an Italian Rev. Jayson Landeza, left, and Steve Wilcox, chancel- co-chair of the walk, advised as the march began. “Just pediatrician who refused both an abortion and a hyster- lor of the Diocese of Oakland, answer questions at a say a prayer and keep it going.” (Continued on Page 10.) forum on clergy sexual abuse on Jan. 22. On our cover Rev. Danielson was ‘a rudder in a stormy sea’ Jimmy Toner, almost 21 months old, was one of the youngest participants in the 50-strong contingent By Albert C. Pacciorini from St. Joseph Basilica Parish in Alameda to the Staff writer Remembrance Walk for Life West Coast in San Francisco Jan. 26. “We trusted him … He was refuge and he was strength, This was Jimmy’s second walk. “His first time walk- a rudder in the stormy sea,” was how Rev. Daniel E. Bishop Michael C. Barber, SJ, Page 3. Danielson was eulogized at his funeral Mass Jan. 22. ing was while I was pregnant with him two years Homily Father Danielson, a priest of the ago,” said his mother, Claire Toner. Jimmy’s father, Rev. Paul D. Minnihan, Page 14. James Toner, teaches at St. Philip Neri School. Diocese of Oakland for 55 years, died Jan. 5 after a brief illness. He was 82. ATD . .12 Father Danielson led a storied cons and sisters and many of the faithful at St. Augustine Bishop’s Column . 3 career: As a clergyman, mentor, Church, part of the Catholic Community of Pleasanton, Classified. .12 advocate for priest education and for where Father Danielson was pastor from 1985-2007. Datelines . 13 a time in the absence of a bishop, as Father Danielson was born in San Francisco on Dec. Forum . 15 administrator of the diocese. 11, 1937 and ordained to the priesthood on March 2, News in Brief . 4 In addition to Bishop Michael C. 1963 at his home parish, St. Jarlath Church in Oakland. Seniors . .11 Barber, SJ, who celebrated the Mass, In a reflection, Bishop Cummins recalled Father Rev. Danielson The Church. 2 three other bishops attended, Bishop Danielson as one with an expansive view of the priest- Travel . 5-6 Emeritus John S. Cummins, and retired Bishops Daniel F. hood, who came of age during the time of the Second Weddings, Anniversaries. 8-9 Walsh of Santa Rosa and William Justice of the Archdiocese Vatican Council. of San Francisco. They were joined by many priests, dea- (Continued on Page 11.) 2 — THE CATHOLIC VOICE THE CHURCH FEBRUARY 4, 2019 THE VATICAN BISHOP BARBER’S SCHEDULE Feb. 6: Office meetings, Chancery Feb. 15: Office meetings, Chancery Feb. 7: Office meetings, Chancery Feb. 16: 10 a.m., Adult Confirmation, Cathedral of Christ the Light, Oakland Feb. 9: 11 a.m., World Day of the Sick Mass with the celebration of Sacrament Feb. 17: 3 p.m., Mass, banquet in of the Anointing of the Sick, Cathedral of celebration of the Lunar New Year with Christ the Light, Oakland the Chinese community, Our Lady of the Rosary Parish, Union City Feb. 14: Office meetings, Chancery THE CATHEDRAL VATICAN MEDIA/CNS VATICAN 3D-printed helmets While the Swiss Guard’s halberds and uniforms have remained largely unchanged over the centuries, its ceremonial helmets are now a product of 21st-century technology. The four-pound, hand-forged metal helmet has been replaced with new lightweight headgear. Still crafted in the “morion” style of the Renaissance and topped with a fluffy red or white ostrich feather, it is now made using a 3D printer and tough, weather-resistant ASA thermo- PHOTO COURTESY plastic — the same material often used for automotive exterior parts. The New school year Swiss Guards used the new helmets during a special ceremony Jan. 22 at The St. Junipero Serra Catechetical Institute and the School for Pastoral the Vatican commemorating the 513th anniversary of their foundation. Pope ministry started a new school year Jan. 12. Around 75 new students began Julius II requested a contingent of Swiss soldiers to protect the pope and their journey toward catechetical certification, both in English and Spanish. his palace in 1505 and the first Swiss soldiers arrived at the gates of Rome The School for Pastoral ministry gathered for a day of recollection, led by Jan. 22, 1506. The Swiss Guard — made up of 110 soldiers — is the small- Father Michael Castori, SJ. The catechetical institute is a one-year formation est and oldest military corps in the world. The men guard all entrances into process for parish and Catholic school catechists, parents and all adults Vatican City State as well as keep watch over the pope and his residence, who want to know their Catholic faith better and be able to hand it on more the Domus Sanctae Marthae. effectively. Participants will receive a solid introduction to the Catholic faith in 60 hours of basic catechetical formation, and if they complete the pro- a catechetical and working gathering,” gram, will be eligible to receive the Basic California Catechist Certificate.