RCC diocese in California closing 13 parishes due to declining attendance
The Diocese of Oakland is closing 13 parishes due to declining attendance, priest shortage, and financial crisis amid lawsuits.
In California, the Roman Catholic diocese of Oakland announced the closure of 13 parishes in the East Bay area, affecting several cities including Alameda, Fremont, Walnut Creek, and Castro Valley, as reported by Tribune Chrétienne.
The decision was made as part of a restructuring initiative launched in 2021, aimed at adapting the church structure to reduced resources. Oakland Bishop Michael Barber stated in an address to the faithful that the current situation is "unsustainable" and does not serve the interests of believers.
Among the reasons cited are declining mass attendance, reduced number of sacraments, and decreasing enrollment in Catholic schools. Additionally, the diocese faces a shortage of priests amid an aging clergy.
Financial difficulties are compounded by lawsuits: in 2023, the diocese filed for bankruptcy due to more than 330 abuse cases and was also required to pay $16 million in one such case. The diocese notes that this is not a direct cause of parish closures, but part of the overall crisis.
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