Bishop apologizes to Castro Valley congregation

Oakland Tribune, Feb 19, 2005 by Karen Holzmeister, STAFF WRITER

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Last year, Vigneron visited churches in Antioch, Byron, Oakland and Richmond to publicly apologize for Ponciroli's "clerical misconduct."

On Thursday, Vigneron brought the same message to Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Castro Valley, where Ponciroli, now 68, was assigned from 1975 to 1979.

A former Our Lady of Grace altar boy, who also was a student at the church's grammar school, is one of eight boys from the two counties who have sued the diocese, saying they were molested by the now-retired priest.

No victims of priestly abuse spoke Thursday.

But Vigneron but told fewer than 100 people scattered throughout the nave of the church that, "I apologize to, and ask the pardon of the parish community of Our Lady of Grace, for the acts of clerical sexual abuse of minors that occurred here."

"In particular, I come to this church tonight to apologize for the betrayal of your trust by Robert Ponciroli. For all of this, I ask your pardon," he added.

The service was quiet and respectful — with an undercurrent of emotion running through the church, which was austere and stripped of banners and flowers for the Lenten season.

Parishioner Kelly O'Lague Dulka of Castro Valley sobbed throughout the service.

Some 20 or more priests or brothers who lived or worked in the diocese during the second half of the 20th century have been investigated for sexual abuse.

Quoting Scripture, Vignernon said a member of the clergy who violated God's command against scandalizing little ones would be better "to have a great millstone fastened round his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea."

Ponciroli's actions, Vigneron said, cast a "blighting shadow over the devoted and exemplary ministry of the many."

Elisa Uribe of Castro Valley, a church member since the late 1970s, praised the bishop for his uplifting words and healing service. "I think we will leave feeling better than when we came," she explained. "At the beginning, he said a little voice might have whispered to us, 'Stay home, don't go.' But, as he said, we have to come and participate in the healing of those who were sexually abused."

Jeff Torres of San Ramon was surprised at the low turnout and the church's decision to provide a pamphlet asking for contributions to a fund for clergy abuse survivors.

"Can you believe that they want us to pay (for the church's legal costs?)," he asked.

On Monday, Alameda County Superior Court Judge Ronald Sabraw rejected a motion by church lawyers to delay a trial, now scheduled to begin on March 7. About 150 victims of clergy abuse in Northern California have filed abuse lawsuits against the Catholic church and various dioceses.

Vigneron's repeated apologies during his 15-minute speech might be the only ones issued in Ponciroli's case.

Ponciroli, who was assigned to churches in both counties from 1969 to 1995, was arrested at his Florida retirement home in 2003, after a newly-enacted California law lifted the statue of limitations on sex crimes. He was extradited to California on six felony counts of child molestation.

However, the charges were dropped after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the California law, and Ponciroli was released.

The diocese hasn't disclosed if Ponciroli has been prohibited from saying Mass or offering the sacraments, or whether he still receives a church pension.

During Thursday's apology service, Vigneron acknowledged church leaders failed to take the side of the victims, to confront abuse "head-on," and to remove priest abusers.

Simons also said that Vigneron's predecessors may have known of other molestation assertions decades ago.

"Ponciroli came (to Our Lady of Grace) from St. Cornelius (church in Richmond) in 1975, when there were complaints he was putting his hands down the pants of altar boys," Simons said. "Then, he was at Our Lady of Grace from 1975 to 1979, when he became pastor of St. Ignatius (in Antioch)."

Karen Holzmeister covers Castro Valley, the Hayward Area Recreation and Park District, and county government for unincorporated areas. Call her at (510) 293-2478 or e-mail

lzmeister@dailyreviewonline.com">kholzmeister@dailyreviewonline.com.]]>