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Published: February 29, 2008
“I had to let the process run its course”
Following three-year investigation, Oakland bishop reinstates priest once accused of molesting minor
Bishop Allen Vigneron, heeding the recommendations of a Diocese of Oakland review panel, has reinstated to active ministry a priest once accused of molesting a minor.
“I think it is a disgrace, an utter disgrace,” Joey Piscitelli, Northern California director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, told the Feb. 26 San Jose Mercury News, referring to Vigneron’s decision.
Piscitelli opined that "it's because of a shortage of priests" that dioceses reinstate priests like Franciscan Father Chris Berbena, who will shortly resume ministry at St. John Vianney parish in Walnut Creek. Berbena was parochial vicar there until 2004, when the diocese put him on a leave of absence.
That year, Berbena’s name appeared in the Los Angeles archdiocese’s Report to the People of God, which provided a list of priests accused of having sexually molested minors. The report indicated that Berbena had one accusation against him, alleging an incident or incidents as occurring in 1980.
Berbena was reinstated after a diocesan review board said it could not find any evidence that the molestation had ever occurred. Then, in 2006, Berbena became part of a settlement between the Order of Friars Minor and plaintiffs in a civil lawsuit, who claimed that ten Franciscan priests in the greater Los Angeles area had molested them. As part of the settlement the ten priests neither admitted nor denied the accusations. Following the settlement, the Diocese of Oakland again removed Berbena from active ministry.
The diocese then opened another formal investigation into the allegations against Berbena. The panel concluded there was no evidence of misconduct against the priest, and recommended that he be reinstated to active ministry.
 In a Feb. 23-24 statement to St. John Vianney parish, Vigneron said he had “complete trust in the Diocesan Review Board,” which took three years to reach to finish its evaluation of Berbena. “Surely this was an excruciating length of time for Fr. Berbena who has steadfastly maintained his innocence while his good name and the fidelity of his priesthood have been questioned,” said Vigneron. “As your bishop, I feel myself morally bound and committed to abide by the procedures we have instituted to ensure the safety of our children and I had to let the process run its course no matter how much time it took or the outcome it determined. I ask for your trust and support of him.”
Posted Friday, February 29, 2008 6:33 AM By Barbara Dorris
The Oakland Catholic bishop claims he's 'investigated' child sex abuse allegations against Fr. Chris Berbena. That's almost laughable.
Bishop Allen Vigneron has a website, a weekly newspaper, and dozens of parish bulletins. Has he repeatedly published notices begging anyone who saw, suspected or suffered crimes by Berbena to step forward? Vigneron is a well-spoken man respected by his flock. Has he gone to churches where Berbena worked and urged those with information about these accusations to speak up? Until these steps are taken, others who may have been hurt by Berbena may continue to suffer in shame, silence and self-blame.
Passively sitting back and waiting for the phone to ring is not an investigation. Until church officials take strong, clear steps to reach out (as Jesus taught us) to the lost and wounded sheep, the truth is likely to remain hidden. That, apparently, is just what Vigneron wants.
Barbara Dorris
OPutreach Director for SNAP
Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests
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Posted Friday, February 29, 2008 7:58 AM By Cyrus Johnson
It is true that there has been some bad acts in the priesthood (as in every other field) which is a grave tragedy for them, for their victims and families, and for our community and Church at large.
It is also true that enemies of faith and God have used some incidents (both real and also imagined) as a conflated lever to attack faith, our episcopacy and priests, and the Church itself in their ultimate empty effort to combat God. This second offense is also a grave threat to all of us which should not escape our notice nor our participation in favor of only combatting the former evil. One can "act well" in some things while missing the call to action in other pressing calls for action.
Our Lord said, "Let the children come to me."
I wonder who benefits and who is pleased and who smiles by the effort at destruction of this loving visage in the minds of people and the wreckage of so many good men of God. Should we be complicit?
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Posted Friday, February 29, 2008 8:28 AM By Thomas Miles
Thank you, Bishop Vigneron; Father Berbena is a very good priest and a fine man! "I think that it is a disgrace, an utter disgrace" that SNAP believes all allegations without question, NOW, THAT IS REAL ABUSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Posted Friday, February 29, 2008 9:11 AM By Angelo
I know a Priest from the Fresno Diocese who was falsly accused of sexual molestation. The accusation goes like this. A 17 year old teenager allegedly discovered that this priest was molesting his 15 year old brother. He went to
the priest and confronted him, the priest then turned on him
and molested him for 5 years. The courts did'nt buy it, and have thus far thrown the case out of court twice. The two
brothers are appealing. They want millions of dollars from the Fresno Diocese. I believe that many accused priests
are innocent. But the problem seems to be avarice. Some
people would go to any lenght for MONEY!
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Posted Friday, February 29, 2008 9:21 AM By Michael
In reading this article, it appears that the priest was innocent of the charges; there was no evidence,he denied the charges, and there was just one accusation, 28 years ago! The review board made their decision cafefully and justly, taking 3 years to do so. What more can one ask, other than to defrock a priest for one accusation,apparently not justified. Methinks they protest too much!
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Posted Friday, February 29, 2008 9:58 AM By Betty
I think this is great news. I've always thought that some people seem to believe accusations that are made and jump on the accused person with namecalling, etc. without ever stopping to think that it is possible that the accusation is false. There is such a thing as false accusations and some immoral people profit from them despite the fact that they may have injured someone's reputation, way of making a living, etc. I think we should all suspend judgment until we have definite proof, if that ever happens. I once had a job where I traveled to people's houses to tutor adolescents who had various health problems and had to stay home from school. I was let go from this job because someone accused me of something but I never knew what I had been accused of and had no way to defend myself because the two of us were alone with no witnesses. Let me tell you that this was an awful experience. Fortunately I didn't really like that job very much and found another one very shortly.
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Posted Friday, February 29, 2008 10:18 AM By Grisha
This type of investigation needs to be put in the hands of independent attorneys and licensed investigators. Probably those who aren't Catholic.
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Posted Friday, February 29, 2008 10:34 AM By Christopher Zehnder
Grisha,
And who will choose the independent attorneys and licensed invesigators?
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Posted Friday, February 29, 2008 10:38 AM By Christopher Zehnder
Betty,
You make an important point. Anyone can be accused of molestation. Reflecting on this might force us to reconsider the tendency to knee-jerk conclusions about accused priests. I don't recommend special treatment for priests, but I reject special suspicion.
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Posted Friday, February 29, 2008 11:01 AM By david
listen to what the bishops' legal expert says about false allegations (from the 8/31/02 New York Times):
Exactly how many priests have been falsely accused during the 17 years since clerical sexual abuse became a public scandal as a result of a 1985 lawsuit against a Louisiana priest is a matter of debate, although no one contends that the number is large.
Patrick Schiltz, dean of the University of St. Thomas law school in Minnesota, said that over more than a decade he had defended Catholic dioceses against sexual-abuse lawsuits in more than 500 cases, and that he had concluded that ''fewer than 10'' of those cases were based on false accusations.
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Posted Friday, February 29, 2008 11:10 AM By Grisha
For now I'd trust the Diocese , that is the Bishop and his advisors with serious laity input as long as there was complete disclosure showing the firm's principals and senior associates were not in any way involved with the diocese, its corporations, golfing buddies with Monsignor Hutzenklutz, etc. I suppose a partnership of a Jew, an Episcopalian and an Evangelical would be ideal.
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Posted Friday, February 29, 2008 11:19 AM By Mark Gauer
I have learned not to trust the catholic church at all. How can you call it an investigation unless you question the sheep in the parishes where Berbena was. The church will continue the cover-up as long as the sheep continue to put their money in the collection basket. You would think that Northern California catholics would have learned after Mahony led them. Go rent "Deliver us fro Evil", it will open your eyes and hopefully close your wallet. The church likes sheep because they don't question, they just follow. They are now targeting the immigrants as their new sheep. The report that came out this week about religion shows a 10% drop in catholisism. That number would be even greater without immigrants. The church doesn't deal with your feelings especially when it comes to sex. They just tell you "don't think that way". This is a huge reason why so many victims don't come forward and talk about the abuse because no catholic wants to talk about sex. Your faith is between you and the Lord and believe me the Lord would not act as the current bishops and pope. If you want to continue to see a drop in the catholic faith than don't do anything but realize you are contributing to a corrupt organization.
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Posted Friday, February 29, 2008 11:31 AM By Grisha
Oh .. Let me add that the contract would have to provide for the absolute right to review records, etc. along with a "no fear or favor" clause
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Posted Friday, February 29, 2008 11:51 AM By Harry Byrne
Sexual abuse of young people is horrendous. Because it is such a horror, care must be taken that an innocent person does not have his name tarnished forever. The bishops' June 2002 Dallas Charter did an excellent job of establishing programs of vetting priests and employees, educating all to be aware of signs of abuse, mandates on reporting etc. But the Charter was abysmal in protecting the innocent priest. He is pulled out of ministry after a "credible" allegation. What are the standard for establishing "credibility. The bishop is the arresting officer, the prosecutor, the judge, the appellant bench, and the parole officer. It is dangerous to give any one man, subject to strong emotions, such free play over any individual. That is why our anglo-american judicial system has the searation of powers! The Church centers diverse functions in one individual.
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Posted Friday, February 29, 2008 12:00 PM By SNoel
Innocent or not, it has not been proven one way or another.
We need to be on the safe side. He should be placed in a non pastoral postion, maybe in the diocesan offices in a position where he doesn't come in solitary contact with minors. I hope this parish doesn't have a school.
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Posted Friday, February 29, 2008 1:06 PM By hrh
The 2002 Dallas Charter is pure spin, a total sham. Read it and see for yourself.
Also, it does not apply to bishops and cardinals, who have enabled, transferred and promoted the rapists, sodomizers, molesters and abusers of your children.
Wise up, sheeple. Stop drinking the Bish Club Kool-Aid and stop donating your hard-earned dollars to support this corrupt, ongoing criminal enterprise.
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Posted Friday, February 29, 2008 2:12 PM By Papamac
WHAT DIOCESE IS THIS...(1) Instead of punishing child molesters(homosexual Perverts), they are moved from place to place(2) it takes them 1 to 2 years to investigate a claim of abuse(3) if the accused is guilty of molesting a minor or even accessing porn on a computer, he may continue to work provided he see's a shrink(4) molesters who ADMIT their crimes are given a second chance(5) Those empowered to investigate a complain are REQUIRED to seek rehabilitation for the molester(6) The investigators are ALL STAFFED FROM INSIDE(7) DEALS ARE routinely cut FOR MOLESTERS IN SECRET(8) Accused molesters not only walk, THEY WALK WITH A NICE CASH SETTLEMENT, HEALTH INSURANCE AND LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION. Should this BISHOP be horse whipped??should he be immediately excommunicated??Should he not be tried by the Court System and put where he belongs, IN JAIL...Believe it or not there is an organization called S.N.A.P. that fights for the rights of the abused, they want NAMES made public, they want huge financial settlements for those the homosexuals and other assorted perverts have attacked, they want those homosexuals and other assorted perverts helg legally accountable for their acts. In fact we recently had a S.N.A.P. Woman parade around in front of one of our Parish Churches over a 26 year old complaint about a former Priest who was recently charged in another Diocese, he was not in our Diocese for over 20 years, but S.N.A.P. was on the case immediately, and low and behold, would you not believe that a person was found who CLAIMED to have been abused over 25 years ago by that Priest, he is looking for a financial settlement I imagine. S.N.A.P. WANTS THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND IT'S LEADERS HELD ACCOUNTABLE, AND RIGHTLY SO, NOW WOULD YOU PLEASE READ MY SECOND MEMO PUBLISHED BELOW ON S.N.A,P. I Will give them the name of the Diocese and it's leader, so they can VIGOROUSLY PURSUE THE PERVERTS WHO REIGN SUPREME
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Posted Friday, February 29, 2008 2:18 PM By Simone
Mark G. Sometimes it is not the people leaving the Church but rather the Church pushing Catholics away. How? 50% of Catholic marriages end up in divorce. If they remarry then the couples cannot receive the sacraments as long as they remain together. Not being able to go to communion and feeling like a second class Catholic, many divorced Catholics become non-observant/self-ministering and/or move to some other sect that is more welcoming and/or inclusive. The children of these remarried Catholics as a whole do not become Catholics either. Funny thing, a serial murderer or a serial molesting priest can receive forgiveness (and benefit of the doubt) for their sins and also the sacraments, but a divorced and remarried Catholic is cast out to the wilderness with their children. I'll start feeling compassion and understanding for 'forgiven' molesting pedophiles who happen to be in the clergy, when my fellow layman begin to be treated with equal compassion by the Catholic hierarchy.
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Posted Friday, February 29, 2008 2:34 PM By Jimmy Mac
There are times that SNAP appears to be its own worst enemy. They have never met an allegation that they believed to be anything other than true. They are diminishing the value of what otherwise has been good work in many instances. And THAT is a shame!
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Posted Friday, February 29, 2008 2:38 PM By Papamac
Gee, it was not a Catholic Diocese, it was THE OREGON PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM, IT WAS REPORTED IN "THE OREGONIAN" FEB 17TH AND 18TH, IT IS PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE. A Republican Lawmaker in Oregon wanted to suspend rules to deal with this homosexual and other assorted perverts crisis immediately, he was REJECTED by the DEMONCRATICALLY CONTROLLED LEGISLATURE. SINCE NOVEMBER 2006 THE OREGON EDUCATION ASSOCIATION GAVE $53,000 TO LEGISLATOTRS, OVER 90% WENT TO DEMONCRATS. The good news, hopefully someone from S.N.A.P. will now be all over these legislative supporting perverts, they will parade in front of STATE CAPITOL BUILDINGS, Wolf Blitzer and Bill O'Reilly will be all over the Nations air waves screaming for justice for OUR CHILDREN. NANCY PELOSI AND HAIRY REID WILL PUT ASIDE THE SERIOUS NATIONAL SECURITY PROBLEM WE HAVE WITH ROGER CLEMENS AND TURN THEIR ATTENTION TO " OUR CHILDREN" HILARIOUS CLINTON AND BABBLINGBABAMA WILL IMMEDIATELY MAKE THIS AN "ELECTION YEAR PRIORITY" Brian Williams and Katie Couric will win PULITIZER PRIZES for their INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING. Best of all, the word will go out, LEAVE OUR CHILDREN ALONE, THE CRUD OF PLANNED PARENTHOOD IS NO LONGER WELCOME IN OUR AMERICA, MORALLY CORRUPT POLITICANS ARE NO LONGER ACCEPTED. WHAT IS GOOD FOR THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, IS GOOD FOR AMERICA, AND ALL ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING THE TEACHERS ASSOCIATIONS WILL BE HELD CRIMINALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ABUSE OF A CHILD AND ESPECIALLY FOR ANY ATTEMPTS TO COVER UP THE CRIME AS DID THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, AS DOES THE OREGON SCHOOL SYSTEM. I HOPE THIS WAS NOT ALL ABOUT MONEY, I PRAT THAT S.N.A.P. AND ANY OTHER ORGANIZATIONS OUT THERE LEGITIMATELY WANT TO PUT AN END TO THE HOMOSEXUAL AND OTHER PERVERTS GETTING OWAY WITH THEIR CRIMINAL BEHAVIOUR, WE WILL NOW SEE, WON'T WE......GO S.N.A.P., CANNOT WAIT TO SEE YOU PROTESTING AND ON THE NEWSWAVES...BY THE WAY OREGON IS NOT ALONE, THEY ARE THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG, RIGHT NEW YORK, RIGHT LAS VEGAS....MGB
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Posted Friday, February 29, 2008 4:06 PM By John L. Sillasen
One ancient accusation and the priest is toast? Kids know one another ... so it stands to reason that the investigators grilled all the kids associated with the accusers, right?
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Posted Saturday, March 01, 2008 4:54 PM By Maria C
I have learned not to trust Mark Gauer. His words are totally ill driven by hate towards our Lord's church. Mother Theresa once quoted "find a perfect church, then join it, then it won't be perfect anymore". I believe that was her quote.
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Posted Saturday, March 01, 2008 4:59 PM By Maria C
Thomas Miles and Angelo I agree with you, the greatest abuse a person can go through is false accusations and be punished for them, even if found innocent, the person's reputation goes down the tubes. My friend's pastor, who is a born again pastor, was accused of molesting his own children. His wife wanted to leave him and take the kids. It was found that he never molested his kids, the ex-wife made it all up. His church for some reason tended to forgive him and he is back to being a pastor. Imagine if he was a priest, there will always be hatred in those who hate the church and they probably would still keep hanging an innocent man.
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Posted Saturday, March 01, 2008 5:08 PM By Linda Maria
Why can't our bishops take the role of the sacred Catholic priesthood SERIOUSLY?? The sacred role of the priest is far too serious to take chances on!! Those who have any possible questions of moral character and conduct, need to be terminated!! The priest is no mere secular "job-holder," with so-called "rights!!" He stands in the place of Jesus Christ ("in persona Christi") at the holy Altar of God!! He needs to be 100% TRUSTWORTHY for us and for our families!!
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Posted Sunday, March 02, 2008 11:03 AM By Dave N.
Up to this point, I've heard nothing about any investigation going on in the diocese--if there's been any investigation, it's certainly been a quiet one. No doubt Bp. Vigneron is too consumed building his salad-spinner of a cathedral to be bothered with such trivia.
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Posted Sunday, March 02, 2008 6:54 PM By Joey Piscitelli
The Catholic Bishops of the Bay Area deceive parishioners and the public into thinking that their "Independent Review Boards" are neutral parties doing unbiased investigations into claims of sex abuse by priests. The fact is that the hand picked Review Board will always clear Priests accused of sex abuse, unless there is a conviction by a court.
95% of Catholic molester Priests beat conviction because of the statute of limitations on child abuse. This technicality does not make them innocent, and they know this, despite their gloating.
Take it from me. The Diocese of SF stated publicly that the Independent Review Board in my own case against a Catholic Priest found "no credible evidence" against Fr. Whelan, who molested me as a child. They made Fr. Whelan Pastor of St. Peter and Pauls, in San Francisco,and publicly called me a liar in the media.
A year after the Diocese claimed that the Review Board found Fr. Whelan credible, the head of the Review Board, Jim Jenkins, resigned and said "they never did a review in my case at all. " (see article in San Francisco Weekly). Then, in 2006, I won my court case against Fr. Whelan, and the jury found him guilty.
The so called "Independent Review Board" claim that there was no "substantiated evidence" against Fr. Whelan was proven to be a total sham, and the Church hierarchy never apologized.
Bishop Vignerons deceitful manipulation of the Parishioners and community about his IRB should not be underestimated. It is wishful thinking that the "Independent Review Board" is
honest and forthright, and it is wishful thinking that the Bishop is not pulling the wool over your eyes.
The Catholic Church in California has paid 750 million dollars this year to claimants of abuse by priests. You can not be in so much denial that you think the church paid all that money for false allegations.
-joey piscitelli
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Posted Sunday, March 02, 2008 9:38 PM By John L. Sillasen
On another thread on this site, a man who is critical and skeptical of the Church has run the spectre of the Spanish Inquisition by his readers. Now apart from any factual history, the popular concept of the Inquistion is that it was a hideous and demonic thing. From reading Joey Piscitelli's post, and others on the same point of disingenuity among clergy on this abuse scandal, it becomes perceptible that the two things are similar. What I mean is that there was indeed something bizarre about the Inquistion, and there is something strangely bizarre about this cover-up "movement" in our time. The victims and the clergy are pitted against each other ... and the truth is hidden in murky doings. Whether the "iron maiden" or the "make believe maiden", the pain is excruciating for the victims, and beyond outrageous for the those off stage who want the whole mess put to God's justice for the perps and God's mercy for the victims. We have yet to identify the "Torquemada" of today. The devil has his fields days, and we are witnessing one of them currently. The distortion of souls reaches limits beyond the imagination of human beings ... who can really comprehend all this evil? The devil may have spent centuries worming his way into clerical organizations. I've often wondered why so many people left the Church for the upstart Lutheran, Calvinist and Zwinglian churches ... I'm beginning to think that they simply believed they had no choice if they were to save themselves and their offspring. Common man sees survival as paramount ... if the religious authority becomes unimpeachably and obviously evil, then where would even God expect such people to go if not away from those corrupt authorities? Why should the general public be expected to give the time of day to some clericals who say it doesn't matter how evil the priest is, but that the Eucharist is still valid ... who would expect them to watch while their children are defiled? This would be the mood.
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Posted Tuesday, March 04, 2008 10:13 AM By Sigmund
I find Simone's post to be very interesting especially from a layperson's perspective on this clerical abuse issue. Mr. Sillasen's post is also right on. The hierarchy of the Catholic Church is an insular and historically corrupt group who resemble the 12 apostles mostly in their behavior on Good Friday. The lack of moral leadership over the ages by these 'Princes' of the Church has caused much havoc on the Church including the major events such as the Inquisition and Reformation but also the pitiless exploitation of ordinary Catholics since the Middle Ages through luxurious lifestyles and sometimes decadence. The ordinary Bishop has about as much in common with the great St. Augustine's lifestyle and piety as I do with the lifestyle of an African farmer. To Simone's point, 'rehabilitated and repentant' pedophiles are allowed to resume ministry and reception of the sacraments while divorced Catholics and homosexuals are denied access even when they are kneeling devoutly in Church and praying with the rest of the faithful. And you wonder why Catholics are leaving the Roman Church increasingly over the past three generations?
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Posted Tuesday, March 04, 2008 4:33 PM By John L. Sillasen
Sigmund, you misrepresent what I said, and claim I say the opposite of what I said. Weren't you doing this a few weeks ago, also? +++++++++++ I contrasted the popular concept of the Inquistion to the reality of the Church. You do not seem to understand what the Church is, but are bearing false witness against Her.
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Posted Tuesday, March 04, 2008 7:15 PM By Betty
I have heard male teachers tell me that they were warned never to stay after school with an adolescent girl, even with the pretext of helping her with schoolwork, making up tests that she had missed, etc. School principals have known for a long time that the best way to avoid false accusations was to stay out of situations that were questionable or could be . But what about priests? Much priestly counseling is done and should be done in privacy. Can a priest refuse situations that could lead to false accusations? Should he even try to do that? Would that make him overly suspicious so that he would always be on his guard, never relaxed, etc.
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Posted Tuesday, March 04, 2008 8:49 PM By John L. Sillasen
Betty, "kids will do the darnedest things", so the adults have to be on their toes. And, even as adults will spin facts, the kids will spin them even more wildly.
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Posted Wednesday, March 05, 2008 10:34 AM By Elizabeth
Bishop Vigeron is a very wonderful Priest and traditional Bishop.
He deserves our support and I trust that the Holy Spirit has enlightened him in this matter!
Please everyone..............not all Priests who are brought up on charges are guilty, remember that!!!!
Pray for our Priests!!!!!!!!!!!
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Posted Wednesday, March 05, 2008 2:47 PM By Sigmund
I reread your post and perhaps your exact point or conclusion to the reader is not clear. I do not bear false witness anymore than St. Teresa of Avila deplored the decadence and decay of the Church in her time. The wealth, decadence and impiety of many of the Bishops, including the 15th and 16th century Popes caused the Reformation. In England, all the bishops in England but St. John Fisher turned their back on the Church of Rome and sided with Henry VIII. I may admire St. Peter's Basilica in Rome but it was built on the backs of many poor people who resented the misuse of selling indulgences and local money being sent back to Rome to build a church. I love the Church but you have to realize that sometimes it has been its own worse enemy in causing calamaties such as the present problem of clerical abuse. The infiltration of the Catholic clergy with homosexuals has been going on for quite some time and is a major cause of this sexual abuse problem. Bishops lost control of the seminaries and priestly screening process in addition to many other lapses in judgment and decision making. This obviously has been going on for quite sometime probably from the.time of the large influx to seminaries after WWII. A father of a family who does not protect his children from harm is justly condemned. The same goes for many Bishops who not only ignored the problem but abetted it by transferring these pedophiles from parish to parish. So, as a ultramontanist you may see a lily white washed history but from time to time the Church must/should be reformed. This is not to say that there are many good and saintly Bishops but their number are too few and their influence minimal.
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Posted Wednesday, March 05, 2008 8:19 PM By John L. Sillasen
Sigmund, I agree pretty much with your views expressed in your reply. I'm the only Catholic I know of in my family tree. We were raised Lutheran, and protest was what we breathed. The concept that corrupt clergy cause people to leave the Church is a topic which needs some good discussion. I don't see it as an "either/or" kind of thing.
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Posted Friday, March 14, 2008 8:59 AM By John M. Kelley
Prayer for Innocent, Falsely Accused Priests
They cried out, "Crucify him! Crucify him!" Pilate said to them,
"I find no guilt in him. Take him yourselves and crucify him." (John 19)
Jesus Christ, Lamb of God,
falsely and maliciously accused by the mob,
have mercy on us.
Jesus Christ, Lamb of God,
handed over to death by cowardly authority,
have mercy on us.
Jesus Christ, Sun of Justice,
vindicated by your Resurrection,
grant us justice.
Father of Truth,
send the light of your Holy Spirit into the darkness
of every false accusation and unjust condemnation.
Give strength to the innocent to stand firmly in truth,
as you gave to Jesus, in the face of torture and death.
Give courage to church and civil authorities
to grant justice and due process to the innocent,
in the face of the mob.
Father of Mercy,
deliver your innocent ones from evil;
grant them speedy justice and vindication,
in the name of Jesus Christ, our Victim and our Savior.
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on all
innocent victims: the abused and the falsely accused.
(Follow with Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be)
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Posted Sunday, April 27, 2008 6:03 PM By C Gauer
Maria C - it's not the Lord's church when it's tainted with such evil. Until you have experienced (which I would not wish on anyone) abuse of any kind, especially from someone who you are taught to trust, you will never understand. Until you have to live with it in your home and watch someone suffer from its effects you will never understand. Just to clarify something, the Lord never needed a church to preach to his followers. He was a simple man, far from the opulence we see in the church today. As for mother Teresa's quote, I think you misunderstood her message. It isn't about finding perfection in any shape, way or form, because that would be humanly impossible. What is wrong with the church is the great power it has, to do what they want, and not be held accountable for their actions. The church's leaders have allowed these priests to strip these children's souls, the same soul these priests were suppose to protect. I'm pretty damned angry at them for that and if means being equally angry at that the church so be it. The church means nothing to me because it's not a representation of the "Lord", it's just a building. As for your friend's pastor, that has nothing to do with this situation. These priests were accused by more than one person, most of them by several. How do you forgive a church that has known about this and continued to protect these molesters. Would you be as forgiving if it had happened to you or someone you know? Unfortunately everyone pays the price for the bad seeds. It's the trickle down effects of crime. So don't be quick to judge Mark because you know nothing about him.
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Posted Sunday, August 31, 2008 3:36 PM By Matthew
I wholeheartedly hope that the accusations were false and that our new parish priest is completely innocent of the acusations. (I pray that if he is not innocent, that he is sorry for his actions, and that God has forgiven him, and that he will never again violate his vows.) In addition, I sincerey hope that he is strong enough to overcome the devastating long term pain and destruction that these sorts of accusations cause.
I was once accused of comitting a forced sexual act with a woman when I was in my early 20's. This accusation was completely false, but it took well over a year for me to prove my innocence in public through the courts. While I will never know the motives for the malicious claims made against me, I must attest that more than anything else, that accusation changed my life forever--and not in a good way. It has taken me over 10 years to overcome the incident, though I will never fully be over it. I am very thankful that in my time of trouble, that my family stood by me and trusted me. If I had not had them, I don't know where I would have turned as society, your associates, and even your closest (or so you thought) friends immediately look at you differently--regardless of how they may/may not try to appear to take your side. Once these allegations are out there, there's no taking them back. I lost over 50% of my friens because of this, and nearly comitted suicide following a tremendous bout with depression that resulted.
As I later found out, I was the fourth person this individual claimed assaulted her. All other cases were also found to be untrue--so as it turns out she was a serial liar. Nonetheless, it was serious business for me and I had my entire life turned upside down by this person--apparently for fun.
I hope with all sincerity that these old allegations are fales and that the priest will be strong enough to overcome the pain that they have caused.
I will pray for the priest and would ask other to do the same.
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Posted Sunday, October 05, 2008 10:19 PM By Teresa
I, like the previous writer, am a member of CTK and LOVE our parish and trust our parish pastor and school principal whole-heartedly. I know God is good and that our school and church leaders would never put our children in jeopardy.
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Posted Sunday, July 12, 2009 11:43 PM By Jesse Rios
I KNOW FATHER CHRIS BERBENA VERY WELL I SPENT A LOT OF TIME WITH HIM WHEN I WAS 12 TO 16 YRS OLD. IN THAT TIME I NEVER KNEW A BETTER FRIEND!!! HE WAS LIKE A OLDER BROTHER ME, HE NEVER TRIED ANY OF THE THINGS HE IS ACCUSED OF WITH MYSELF OR MY FRIENDS. I KNOW HE COULD NOT HAVE DONE ANY OF THESE THINGS BECAUSE HE IS TO FINE A PERSON!!! CHRIS I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST I LOVE YOU DEARLY YOU WILL ALWAYS HAVE A SPECIAL PLACE IN MY HEART. WAYNE AND I SPEAK OF YOU OFFEN. KEEP THE FAITH LIKE I KNOW YOU WILL LOVE YOUR DEAR BROTHER JESSE RIOS.
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