#USA #California – Thirteen Catholic churches (plus one pastoral center) in the Diocese of Oakland are closing due to financial pressures due to payouts to child sex abuse survivors, as well as associated decline in church attendance, parish contributions, and a reduction in available priests to serve in the diocese.
Bishop Michael Barber announced the closures on April 30, 2026, as part of the diocese’s “Mission Alignment Process” (MAP) for self-reflection and renewal. He noted that many parishes lacked sufficient parishioners and funds to sustain operations, with some relying on parking lot or school rentals. The average priest age is rising, and there are now very few priests for the diocese’s approximately eighty parishes.
The diocese filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2023 amid hundreds of sexual abuse lawsuits. The diocese was recently ordered to pay $16 million to one survivor. The diocese has proposed settlements in the $160–242 million range (with insurance contributions), described as one of the higher per-survivor amounts in similar cases. However, talks with survivors’ representatives have been contentious, with accusations of asset shielding.
Bishop Barber emphasized that the church is “a people called by God,” not just buildings, and that faith will continue in new ways despite the pain of closures. The affected sites include: Mary Help of Christians (Oakland), Our Lady of Guadalupe (Fremont), Our Lady of Lourdes (Oakland), Sacred Heart (Oakland), St. Albert the Great (Alameda), St. Andrew Kim Korean Pastoral Center (Oakland), St. Augustine (Oakland), St. Barnabas (Alameda), St. Paschal Baylon (Oakland), St. Patrick (Oakland), St. Rose of Lima (Crockett), St. Stephen (Walnut Creek), and Transfiguration (Castro Valley).
The closures are expected to take effect in the coming months as part of reorganization. Parishioners from closing sites will be directed to nearby remaining churches.
Image: Cathedral of Christ the Light, the seat of the Bishop of Oakland.
