Sexual abuse victims testify against Oakland
Diocese bankruptcy amid lawsuits
OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) -- Emotional and graphic statements were given on Friday from several survivors who are part of the sexual abuse scandal linked to the Oakland Diocese.
Their appearance in court was part of an effort by the judge overseeing the churches' bankruptcy proceedings.
"Today's session involved survivors of childhood sexual assault by priests at the Catholic Church giving their personal statements to the court and to the bishop," said Attorney Rick Simons.
Simons represents numerous survivors in the sexual abuse scandal linked to the Oakland Diocese. The case was supposed to go to court last year. But the Catholic Church filed for bankruptcy in an effort to settle almost 350 claims. That paved the way for victim statements on Friday, something that doesn't usually happen in bankruptcy proceedings.
RELATED: Diocese of Oakland's plan to settle with sexual assault survivors receives pushback
"To give the survivors some voice in the process. We spent three years in state court with our lawsuits, with our survivors. We had the right to a jury trial, to speak publicly about what each survivor's experience has been. And that's taken away from us," Simons said.
"I have been in this a long time and most of the abuse survivors I know, never tell me the deep graphic details of the abuse," said Tim Stier, a whistle-blower priest.
Even after many years, it is still too hard a place to go to.
Stier is a whistle-blower priest, expelled for his efforts to tackle the sexual abuse scandal. He was in court to hear survivors speak. While it is not a legally established process, the experiment is being used across the country and is gaining popularity.
"It educates bankruptcy judges on a visceral, heart level, what these people go through. Not only what happened, but it affects their whole lives and every relationship in their lives," Stier said.
The Oakland Diocese did not return a request for comment. But in a message posted on its website, it states that is offering between $160 to $198 million to settle hundreds of sexual abuse cases.
RELATED: Oakland Catholic Diocese files motion to keep names of accused child sex abusers secret
The statement said in part: "We recognize that no amount of money can fully and satisfactorily compensate survivors for the abuse they suffered."
Simons calls the offer a scam, saying the church undervalued assets and excluded others from the process.
"Several years ago before these cases were brought, bishop barber proposed closing over 20 parishes because they are underutilized--and liquidating them. In the plan, none of that real estate is touched," Simons said.
There is obviously no fear of God in that diocese, and no concern for the victims. Wasn't this Kamala Harris' old stomping grounds as District Attorney? Shouldn't these cases have been settled then? But, I read somewhere that the Oakland Diocese was a great supporter of Harris who refused to prosecute paedophile priests.
The bankruptcy hearing continues this week.
NYC pastor facing ‘heinous and deeply disturbing’
allegations of repeated sexual abuse of teen boy: sources
A politically connected Brooklyn reverend who dedicated his life to mentoring young children is facing disturbing allegations that he repeatedly sexually abused a teenage boy two years ago, according to sources.
Mentoring!!! That's what he calls it!
Rev. Edward-Richard Hinds – leader of the 67th Precinct Clergy Council known as The GodSquad – was indicted Thursday on two counts of third-degree criminal sexual act and related charges after allegedly performing sexual acts on a 16-year-old on multiple occasions in December 2022, sources said.
Police arrested Hinds, 48, early Thursday morning after executing a search warrant at his home.
The handcuffed cleric appeared in Brooklyn Supreme Court where he was arraigned on the horrific charges. A special prosecutor from the Staten Island district attorney’s office is handling the case.
The sickening claims came to light in August when The GodSquad reported the allegations to the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office and terminated Hinds from his leadership role following an internal investigation, according to an Aug. 12 news release the faith-based group posted to X.
Hinds was also kicked off the Citywide Clergy Collective, an anti-gun violence initiative launched by Mayor Eric Adams’ administration earlier this year.
“The allegations against Pastor Hinds are heinous and deeply disturbing, which is why he was immediately removed from the Citywide Clergy Collective and God Squad as soon as they came to light,” a City Hall spokesperson said in a statement, adding that Hinds was never a city representative.
“We will continue to work with local clergy and community groups to stop violence before it happens on our streets.”
The cleric is also facing charges of two counts of sexual misconduct, forcible touching, third-degree sexual abuse, and endangering the welfare of a child, sources said.
Hinds, who was labeled a flight risk in court, is being held on $5,000 bail and $30,000 bond.
He pleaded not guilty and is due back in court on Dec. 13.
A lawyer for Hinds did not return a request for comment.
Private Sin: How a church protected child molesters
Survivors can call the Michigan Sexual Assault Hotline at 1.855.VOICES4 (864.2374) anytime for access to support and resources.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — A church with deep roots in West Michigan and congregations around the world turned 100 this year. Instead of celebrating its centennial, the Protestant Reformed Churches in America is struggling with what it has called the “private sin” of child sexual abuse and decades of covering up for abusers, including church leaders and school teachers.
A recently released report obtained by Target 8 of Nexstar’s WOOD found dozens of cases of child sexual abuse within the Protestant Reformed Church, or PRC, and accused the church of violating state laws that require clergy and educators to report child abuse.
A police report obtained by Target 8 shows that even recently, leaders in a PRC church in Ottawa County, Michigan, encouraged members not to notify authorities to report physical or sexual abuse within the church or among families of the church. That church’s pastor was convicted in 2022 of assault after teenage girls accused him of inappropriate behavior.
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Survivors of PRC child sexual abuse
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