OAKLAND (CA)
Oakland Tribune
By Laura Ernde, STAFF WRITER
OAKLAND -- Neighbors of a Catholic seminary that is housing seven suspected child molesters say their meeting with church leaders Tuesday night did nothing to assuage their concerns.
"I would say they made matters worse, trying to soft-soap things. This has become like a cesspool," neighbor Jerry Ratch said after leaving the closed-door meeting at St. Albert's Priory in Oakland's upscale Rockridge neighborhood.
Ratch and more than 30 other invited guests -- including neighbors and parents of students at two local schools -- spent nearly three hours meeting with leaders of the Western Dominican Province, the Catholic
order that runs the seminary. Province spokeswoman Carla Hass said she was disappointed the church wasn't able to persuade more people sufficient precautions are being taken to ensure that the men don't pose a threat.
Posted by kshaw at December 16, 2004 08:05 AM