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	Bishop Ends Tour with Last Apology Service Two-Year Effort Was a Gesture of Atonement by the Oakland Diocese; Critics Say Not All Priests Named in Abuse Scandal By Sophia Kazmi Contra Costa Times March 29, 2006 http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/news/local/states/california/14211872.htm Dublin - Bishop Allen Vigneron on Tuesday night delivered the last of the apologies for those abused by priests of the Oakland Diocese. After a two-year tour of the diocese, the service at St. Raymond Catholic Church was the 21st apology service presided over by the bishop -- and the last. It was intended for those who could not make one of the other services, or who were not ready to come forward when Vigneron was at their parish. "I am here with you to acknowledge past failings," the bishop told the audience at the start of his homily. Vigneron has traveled throughout the East Bay, with stops at churches in Antioch, Castro Valley, Richmond and other cities. Before the bishop began his homily, members from the Survivors Network for People Abused by Priests, also known as SNAP, held a vigil and passed out fliers that said the diocese is not providing all the names of priests involved in alleged abuses. Joey Piscitelli, SNAP's Bay Area coordinator, said nine priests accused of sexual abuse at Salesian High School in Contra Costa County were not being mentioned at the service. "What it's turned out to be is an apology for the minimal amount of priests," Piscitelli said. Piscitelli and several other SNAP members went inside the sanctuary to address the bishop after he finished his homily, but the bishop did not respond. Piscitelli said he was molested by a priest at Salesian High School in Richmond and was wondering why that priest's name was not among those for whom the bishop was making apologies. "I don't think that's right," he said. "If you're going to apologize, you should apologize to everyone." As the SNAP members left the sanctuary, some attendees clapped and others followed them outside to offer their support. The Rev. Mark Wiesner, spokesman for the Oakland Diocese, said they are not hiding the names of any priests, but he did believe the apologies are for the actions of priests who were directly affiliated with the Oakland Diocese. "We haven't hidden the names of the priests in the diocese ... and we certainly wouldn't take that strategy at this point," Wiesner said. The series of apology services began in January 2004 at St. Ignatius in Antioch and since then, Vigneron has visited parishes throughout the East Bay to apologize for the sexual misconduct of priests who worked at those parishes. The services grew out of the diocese's No More Secrets ministry. The ministry, which may be the first in the nation, is made up of survivors who work with clergy members. "It is possible to forgive (and) not to forget, no," Vigneron said. "But to forgive and to move toward healing." Staff Writer Randy Myers contributed to this story. Sophia Kazmi covers Dublin and Castro Valley. Reach her at 925-847-2122 or skazmi@cctimes.com.
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