Don't Show Them the Money

7/12/2018

"Reality. What a concept."
-- Robin Williams

Last month a parishioner alleged to be romantically involved with troubled pastor Daniel Barica of Saints Simon and Jude (SSJ) Catholic church in Huntington Beach was identified by name in a comment left on this site. When it was brought to my attention I immediately deleted it along with the person’s name. The stress and anxiety that many SSJ parishioners have endured since this un-Franciscan friar took charge in 2012 is understandable. Watching their beloved parish torn apart by a tyrannical priest has been heartbreaking. But Barica’s removal from office will ultimately be determined by the truth, not rumors. Speaking up in public, documenting incidents, and going on record are still the most effective ways to puncture a bully’s inflated ego.

I no longer expect every Franciscan to behave like a follower of St. Francis of Assisi. This is how badly my love for the order has deteriorated over the years. The harsh reality is that there are too many priests in this province who don’t warrant the title of “father.” Ordination alone does not constitute reverence. Barica is near the top of this growing list. His trump-like behavior at SSJ is all the more disturbing since it followed him when he joined the parish six years ago.

Like the sexual predators shielded and moved by the church, the Franciscans knew of Barica’s emotional problems for years. When he became increasingly erratic and disliked as pastor of Mission Santa Barbara, the Franciscans kicked him upstairs and shuffled him off to SSJ. With capable priests in short supply, Barica was given a promotion that was basically a religious version of the Peter Principle.

Wounds Have Been Reopened

Before Barica moved to SSJ in 2012, SafeNet sent a letter to the SSJ pastoral staff alerting them of the problem and advising them to take a proactive stand. Two years later SafeNet and others called on the Franciscan Province of St. Barbara and the Diocese of Orange to remove Barica from SSJ and place him in a program that would deal compassionately with his emotional and psychological state—a program, I might add, that was already in place and made available to other friars with similar problems.

  Barica is a wounded priest. He's being protected by his superiors, supported by a fraternity crippled by foolish devotion, and enabled by a staff fearful of losing their jobs. His extreme divisiveness has created a self-made crisis fueled by his narcissism.

During this same period, SafeNet also urged the Franciscans to begin a recovery and reconciliation forum for SSJ parishioners distraught by their encounters with Barica. It asked them to utilize the professional services provided by their own Office of Pastoral Outreach – an office that was established in 2006 to help anyone in the Franciscan province who had experienced trauma related to clergy sexual abuse.

There are plenty of specious arguments employed by church apologists regarding the question of who deserves this type of pastoral care. Lest we forget, SSJ is a parish that was severely impacted by one of the Franciscans' most charismatic sexual offenders, ex-friar and former SSJ assistant pastor Gus Krumm -- a priest whom the friars had also moved from parish to parish. Those wounds have been reopened by Barica. Any Franciscan today who remains silent on what’s happening at SSJ, or who denies emotional and spiritual care to its parishioners is guilty of complicity.

And here’s the rub: None of these concerns have ever been adequately addressed, acknowledged or responded to by the Franciscans or the Diocese of Orange. Requests have gone unanswered. Emails, letters and phone calls from countless people have been ignored. Grievances have been diminished and dismissed by colluding clergy and laypeople alike that are either unqualified or incompetent to comprehend the depth and seriousness of the problem. Those who are obligated to offer assistance have failed to lift a finger.

SSJ parishioners know what neglect feels like. Searching for ways to reach out and be understood, many have resorted to using the “comments” section on a story I posted on Barica four years ago to share their concerns with one another. While the Franciscans and the diocese choose not to listen, parishioners are using this space to stand together and be heard.

Fleeing to Higher Ground

Franciscan provincial David Gaa, whom many believed would be an instrument for change, reluctantly took charge and decided things were just fine the way they were. As a result, his do-nothing approach on this issue continued to further the woodenheaded policy instigated by his predecessor, John Hardin. At this point, Barica has caused so much damage in the last six years that any decision Gaa might make regarding this priest’s fate would be close to irrelevant.

The last provincial to demonstrate any courage was Melvin Jurisich who, in the end, threw in the towel in 2009 at precisely the time when his leadership skills were needed most. It was Jurisich who first helped his fellow friars understand, unite and join with SafeNet in 2003; and it was Jurisich who said and did nothing when Hardin, his successor, eroded the partnership, denounced SafeNet and joined a growing faction of disgruntled clergy who now distance themselves from the scandal and deny the problem exists. Semi-retired now and living at the friars’ Malibu retreat house, Jurisich’s voice is a clapperless bell heralding a daft silence. He joins others guilty of inexcusable deafness that include former provincial Joseph Chinnici, former definitor Michael Doherty, and former SSJ pastor Michael Harvey.

As a survivor and survivor advocate, I’m past the point of being shocked or surprised by anything the Franciscans choose not to do in alleviating this suffering. I’ve witnessed firsthand efforts to get the friars to acknowledge and address the anguish of parishioners at Mission Santa Barbara, only to be met with hostility and a wave of passive-aggressive behavior directed at anyone who even mentioned clergy sexual abuse.

Those who argue that the situation in Santa Barbara is somehow better today than it was before are either deluding themselves or attending too many trump rallies. It’s not enough to install a new pastor with a gentle disposition if that pastor has to answer to the very same friars responsible for the shameful tactics that destroyed Mission Santa Barbara in the first place. The aforementioned John Hardin and former mission guardian Richard McManus are back in charge and have succeeded in transforming an open, welcoming space into a closed, gated community that grows more and more distrustful of anyone not wearing brown.

This scandal touches everyone. Dan Lackie, the above-mentioned new pastor, has become a sad victim of his own misguided loyalty. Coming from SSJ where he was admired for years, Lackie ended up breaking the hearts of many parishioners when he failed to condemn Barica’s behavior and provide pastoral care for those who had been harmed. By siding with his fraternity instead of the people his fraternity was pledged to serve, he got it backwards. I know Dan Lackie. He has a kind heart. It’s precisely what makes his actions so puzzling and painful.

Such dark betrayals have been going on for decades. It’s an old story: the faithful place their faith in the Franciscans only to have it destroyed by a senseless string of offenses committed against the very people who support them. The unthinkable is perpetrated by a parade of idiotic and sociopathic priests whom everyone else in the order swears dumb allegiance to. In the nineties when the abuse scandal cracked wide open, many churchgoers couldn’t leave the Franciscans fast enough. They clutched their children and wallets and fell over each other as they fled to higher ground.

A Muck of Their Own Choosing

On the diocesan side, I’m done trying to second-guess Bishop Kevin Vann of the Diocese of Orange. The blatant stonewalling employed by him and his underlings--Steve Sallot, Daniel Reader and Shirl Giacomi—is one more disgraceful chapter in this diocese’s long and gloomy history. For a man who grew up in the fifties and sixties, Vann acts more like he was born at the beginning of the last century instead of the middle. Isolated by his handlers, he’s become just another conservative prelate detached from the real world.

Does the church really have a zero tolerance policy for clergy sexual abuse? What evidence does it have to back up this claim? A majority of survivors I’ve spoken with in the last six months have serious doubts about this rule. In 2002 the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops was compelled to adopt and implement standards and safeguards by the very men and women who refused to stay silent and unseen. But church personnel files and accountability reports remain a secret to this day because transparency is not an option. In the past, perpetrator priests were routinely protected and empowered by their own members. Why should anyone believe it’s any different today?

This is how badly the Vatican has muddied the waters of pastoral outreach. Their own pledge of support is as visible as the Holy Ghost. Where once they had the opportunity to show compassion and humility and earnestly work with survivors to help navigate this storm together, they now sink deeper into a muck of their own choosing.

For their part, the Franciscans and the Diocese of Orange are doing nothing to allay anyone’s fears and suspicions. On the contrary, they appear to be doing everything they can to confirm them. In Barica’s case, they are actually enforcing a zero tolerance policy for reporting abuse. There’s no other way to explain their silence in the face of years of complaints. And just to be absolutely clear: what Barica is doing at SSJ may not constitute sexual abuse, but make no mistake about it: it is abuse. What’s more, it’s a violation of the church’s own vow to protect its community from those who prey on the innocent.

Money Makes the World Go Around

Public perception never moves the church to change, unless, of course, it has a negative impact on its financial resources. “Show me the money" is a haughty phrase used by some to urge others to dig deep into their pockets. SSJ is a cash cow. Like Mission Santa Barbara, it generates tremendous amounts of much-needed revenue for the Franciscans and the diocese it serves. The surest way to get the church’s attention is to poke a big hole in their collection basket and stop showing them the money. Daniel Barica doesn’t deserve anyone's continued financial support. As the guardian of a cow he’s been milking for years, it’s time for him to get a chicken.

This is not to suggest that the Franciscans, as a whole, are undeserving of our generosity. For those who still wish to support the friars monetarily, I propose donating directly to their Franciscan missions in Mexico and Arizona where your dollars will have the greatest impact and do the most good. Here is where you’ll find friars working side by side with the poor, the disadvantaged, and the undocumented. Here is where some of the best and most honorable Franciscans labor daily under the fundamental belief that they are the servants, not the masters.

When I was a kid, a favorite uncle of mine used to say that a priest only listened to you when you went to confession—and only then if your sins were worth hearing. Though it may seem like small comfort now, the sins of these priests will ultimately be heard by many. Those who failed to hear, those who became muted horns, and those who feigned an indefensible dumbness will all be held accountable. In the end, Barica himself will not escape responsibility. Such is the law of cause and effect; such is the fate of frauds and scoundrels.

Am I still hopeful? Of course. But hope doesn’t cling or babble. It grabs on tight and makes its presence known. We are currently living through one of the most preposterous and perilous times in our nation’s history. A moronic, self-centered president stews in his own treachery. A gutless, political party schemes to dismantle democracy. An ignorant base acts hatefully with cruel intentions that invariably cause others to suffer and even die. What is happening at SSJ may seem insignificant in the great scheme of things, but resistance begins with the smackdown of the pettiest tyrant.

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A LIST OF CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS WORTHY OF YOUR SUPPORT

The Servants of Mary

For those who feel they cannot support the Franciscans at all, consider donating to Mary Health of the Sick in Southern California where Katie O'Reilly Rogers, diagnosed with a brain tumor, is being cared for. Katie is the brilliant Santa Barbara landscape architect who drew up the plans for SafeNet's "Garden of Forgiveness" project. For two years she advocated for its creation at Mission Santa Barbara until she was dismissed by the friars and the project was rejected. A simple card or letter to Katie will go a long way in making her feel the true spirit of St. Francis.

Katie O’Reilly Rogers
Mary Health of the Sick
2929 Theresa Drive
Newbury Park, CA 91320
Phone: 805-498-3644
Website: http://www.maryhealth.com/Donate
NOTE: Mary Health of the Sick is owned and operated by The Servants of Mary, a Catholic congregation of women religious who dedicate their lives to providing loving, compassionate nursing care to people of all faiths.

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Franciscan Missions in the Province of St. Barbara

I know the friars associated with these missions. All of them have spent the best part of their lives doing what you’d expect a follower of St. Francis to be doing: living, working and praying with the poor and marginalized of our society. If you want to experience firsthand what it means to serve others and live the Gospel, visit these missions and volunteer your time. If a visit is not possible, consider supporting the efforts of these friars with a donation.

Friar Tommy King, OFM
Casa Franciscana Outreach in Guaymas, Mexico
P.O. Box 15576
Scottsdale, AZ 85267
Website: https://casafranciscanaoutreach.org/contact/about/
NOTE: Casa Franciscana Outreach is the nurturing community that friar Marty Gates founded almost fifty years ago, and has remained a jewel in the apostolic church. A beacon of social justice and spiritual enrichment for hundreds of indigent families, Marty’s dream lives on.

Friar Ignatius DeGroot, OFM
San Carlos Apache Catholic Mission
460 San Carlos Avenue
P.O. Box 28
San Carlos AZ 8550-0069
Phone: (928) 475-2210
Website: http://stcharlesmission.org/

Friar Ponchie Vasquez, OFM
San Solano Missions
Route 19 and Topawa Road
P.O. Box 210
Topawa AZ 85639-0210
Phone: (520) 383-2350
Website: https://www.facebook.com/SanSolanoMissions/
NOTE: Friars Ponchie Vasquez, David Paz and Peter Boegel are three of the most self-less and devoted Franciscans in the province. Ponchie was one of the last graduates of Santa Barbara’s St. Anthony’s Seminary to continue on and take final vows.

Friar Eddie Fronske, OFM
St. Francis Mission
9 W Elm Street
P.O. Box 679
Whiteriver AZ 85941-0679
Phone: (928) 338-4432
Website: https://discovermass.com/church/st-francis-whiteriver-whiteriver-az/

Friar Stephen Barnufsky, OFM
San Xavier del Bac Mission
1950 W San Xavier Road
Tucson AZ 85746-7409
Phone: (520) 294-2624
Website: sanxaviermission.org

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Author

A Room With A Pew is a thought-provoking column on clergy abuse and the healing process. Its content reflects the observations, opinions and experiences of Paul Fericano, a former student who attended Saint Anthony’s Seminary in Santa Barbara in the sixties, and a survivor of clergy sexual abuse. Fericano co-founded SafeNet in 2003, and returned to Santa Barbara that same year to assist the community in recovery. As a poet, satirist and author, he is actively engaged in advocacy, social justice and reconciliation efforts. He supports and encourages those who have been harmed by the Catholic church to explore the healing process, pursue justice with compassion, and to reclaim their past. He is the editor and co-founder of Yossarian Universal News Service (YU News Service), the nation's first parody news syndicate established in 1980. His spiritual practice includes challenging himself to look for humor in the shadows.

Memories of Better Days Persist
Many St. Anthony's students have contacted me, and one asked about the barbershop, where he had sought refuge one day after his offender beat him. Read story.
by PAUL FERICANO
TUES., APRIL 1, 2014
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No Matter How High the Hedge Grows
The Solidarity Project memorial for clergy abuse survivors at Mission Santa Barbara was vandalized for a second time by a person employed by the Franciscans.
Read story.
by PAUL FERICANO
WED., MARCH 5, 2014
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Mario (Walter) Cimmarrusti, OFM: 1931 - 2013
The Worst of What We Lived
My offender, a notorious Catholic priest and Franciscan friar who abused many boys at St. Anthony's Seminary, died on November 23, 2013.
Read story.
by PAUL FERICANO
THURS., FEBRUARY 13, 2014
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The Roots of Pastoral Response
Pastoral response is the kind of outreach by the church that is absolutely essential to the healing process.
Read story.
by PAUL FERICANO
WED., FEBRUARY 5, 2014
---
Looking for Francis in the Franciscans
Among survivors of clergy abuse, what puzzles, angers, and disappoints many is the shortage of moral courage among the friars in general.
Read story.
by PAUL FERICANO
WED., JANUARY 8, 2014
---
From Survival to Forgiveness
In 1965 when I was 14 I was sexually abused at St. Anthony’s, a Catholic minor seminary in Santa Barbara operated by the Franciscan religious order.
Read story.
by PAUL FERICANO
THURS., DECEMBER 5, 2013

SSJ member

7/13/2018 07:32:53 am

Thank you for this. I am very disappointed Father Dan Lackie allowed all of this to happen. I did not know so many people replied to your other article that they asked for his help and he did not do anything.

SB Survivor

7/13/2018 09:04:46 am

Thank you for this. It helps to know that we are not alone and that there are those who truly are listening and doing something to keep this issue in the open and out of the shadows.

Simon and Jude survivor

7/13/2018 12:17:13 pm

Please ask other survivors in Santa Barbara to help us in Huntington Beach by writing their thoughts here. Tell them to let Fr Dan know after mass or with an anonymous note how horrific Barica treated them. This article is right, the best way to protest is by donating to another cause. People in SB and HB, please stand together and stop donating until Barica is removed. Staying quiet and donating in SB just keeps enabling Fr Dan who in turn enables Fr Daniel. Fr Dan comes off as being so wonderful and kind. But after all the years he was at our church, he is not being kind by staying on the sideline while our community is in deep decline. If we stay quiet and continue to donate, that makes us all enablers.

Paul Fericano link

7/13/2018 01:52:22 pm

For those who use Twitter, @YUNewsService has created #RemoveBarica Spread the tweet...

YU News Service @YUNewsService
Don't Show Them the Money - A Room With A Pew https://roomwithapew.weebly.com/1/post/2018/07/dont-show-them-the-money.html
#RemoveBarica #ClergyAbuse

7/13/2018 10:11:48 pm

Twitter won’t help much but won’t hurt either. We are currently collecting several evidence from SSJ parents , parish staff, and faculty members which includes photos, conversations between M and Daniel mentioning the principal and asking him to fire her as well as mentioning other faculty members and asking him to get rid of them as well. Conversations between M and some of the moms who are pretending to be friends with her... etc. This woman needs to pay for the distress she caused to several people and the damaging of their reputation. Once we collect enough evidence we will send copies to the diocese, the school district she works for as well as several blogs and maybe even the OC register since one of their authors showed interest in what’s going on at SSJ. Believe me there is a lot going on behind the scenes.

Olan Horne

7/15/2018 07:04:12 am

The arrogance and hubris of this institution is staggering. I know of no other non profit organization in America no matter how large that has waved its defenses in over 100,000 cases of child abuse and is allowed to operate without oversight by our own government. May I point to the outrage at out border for the separation of children . Where are the Senators and Congress itself on this current sort of behaviors of a non profit. Financial misappropriations, retirement scams, cover ups, lobbying, child abuse its never ending. Like Trump and like a dog, they do what they do because they can until someone screams stop! Nice Job Paul keep writing.

7/15/2018 07:27:06 am

The solution to the Catholic Church is easy,1-2-3

1) Immediately have the laity take over all operation and financials of the institution.
2) Release the boys in black to evangelize only and do gods work.
3) Require one thing, RECEIPTS

** It is autocratic and was built to be that. The canonical process is the beast. Here is the Church here is the steeple, look inside and see all the people!. Its Alice in Wonderland an upside down. Hierarchy; well they do not work , and does not in a modern world. Neither does celibacy,now that is unnatural!

Alice MacDonald

7/15/2018 11:09:33 am

Paul, I have known you for years and been inspired by your own work to heal your own abuse and then through SafeNet your efforts to heal others....including the abusers. No one was doing both of those and it cost you on both fronts. But it is true Gospel work. Your own authenticity and integrity and compassion over the years has been a constant. You stay true to your refusal to be anyone but yourself and the courage it takes to follow some inner guidance you have about what needs to be said. We do take different approaches but I would not be able to take mine without the balance of yours and what it teaches me about pain, suffering, healing and accountability. Thanks so much!! Love you....

terry reis kennedy

7/15/2018 02:54:27 pm

Thank you so very much.

7/15/2018 02:59:46 pm

IMPORTANT NOTE:

Every Catholic diocese in the country has established an outreach office of Victim Assistance Coordinators.

Concerned SSJ parishioners should contact the Victim Assistance Coordinator (VAC) for the Diocese of Orange, Sylvia Palda, LMFT,

Ms. Palda should be made aware of what Barica is doing.

SSJ is a parish where a former priest (Gus Krumm) sexually abused minors. The current problems with Barica at SSJ stem from these past abuses and fall within the VAC's purview.

Ms. Palda is mandated and obligated to help those who have been traumatized by the clergy abuse scandal--including secondary survivors (family members, schoolmates, parishioners, etc.).

Identities are kept strictly confidential--a standard operating procedure for all Victim Assistance Coordinators.

Contact:

Sylvia Palda, LMFT
Victim Assistance Coordinator (VAC)
Diocese of Orange
949-244-5781
palda.sylvia@gmail.com

7/15/2018 03:21:36 pm

Here is a contact list for the Orange County Register. For those interested, I suggest SSJ parishioners get in touch with as many sources as you can at this local newspaper.

I'll also include this contact list under a "new" comment on on my earlier blog post "Problem Priests...", for the benefit of those who haven't yet discovered this post.

THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER (OCR)

Reporter / Covering Huntington Beach:

Susan Goulding
714-796-6766
sgoulding@scng.com

Editors / Crime and Public Safety:

Mark Evans, 714-796-4957, markevans@scng.com
Steve Green, 714-796-7714, stgreen@scng.com
Jim Radcliffe, 714-796-7985, jradcliffe@scng.com

Reporters / Crime and Public Safety:

Sean Emery, 714-642-6487, semery@scng.com,
Twitter: @semeryOCR
Alma Fausto, 714-796-7865, afausto@scng.com,
Twitter: @AlmaFausto1

Edior / Watchdog Investigations & Reporting
on Public Officials and Institutions:

Frank Suraci, 310-543-6621, fsuraci@scng.com

Reporters / Watchdog Investigations & Reporting
on Public Officials and Institutions:

Jason Henry, 626-544-0871, jhenry@scng.com
Joe Nelson, 909-386-3874, jnelson@scng.com
Tony Saavedra, 714-796-6930, tsaavedra@scng.com
Scott Schwebke, 714-796-7767, sschwebke@scng.com
Teri Sforza, 714-796-6910, tsforza@scng.com
Beau Yarbrough, 909-483-9376 byarbrough@scng.com

Virginia Jones

7/15/2018 07:24:23 pm

With all do respects to the fact that Paul published the original blog and this informational second blog on the topic of a problem priest at Sts. Simon and Jude’s parish, I would not take his advice to go to a church employed Victim Assistant Coordinator. I have heard of good work done by the one in Boston, but the two I encountered in Portland truly worked for the church and their goal were to control the situation and keep things quiet rather than allow people to know the truth or really have what they needed for healing.

Specifically we had a forum moderated by a Victim Assistant in our parish. I came forward to speak because my son and I were groomed by the former pastor, and I believe that my son would have been abused by that pastor had the clergy abuse scandal not erupted out of Boston in January 2002. But the scandal erupted and the priest was removed. I was hurt and confused and left with unanswered questions so I did what few parishioners do—I read everything I could find on the internet. In the course of my readings I realized that the Franciscans had known about this priest’s abusive proclivities for more than 20 years and the archdiocese knew too because the Franciscans informed them but not parishioners.

I naively thought parish staff would care. They did not. They stonewalled me and then with the instructions of the leadership of the Franciscans they provoked me into shouting before Mass and called the police on me. They claimed not to know what I was angry about and told everyone, including my husband, that I was mentally unstable. The latter led to a divorce, but so much for the sanctity of marriage. Covering up clergy abuse is more important.

Fortunately I had handed out enough newspaper articles on the clergy abuse scandal and the Franciscan leadership knowing about our parish priests’ abuses that some people knew why I was angry. One of these people spoke to the pastoral council and pleaded my case. When a wonderful new priest, Fr. Armando Lopez, came to the parish, I was invited back.

Some people welcomed me; some still thought I was that mentally unstable woman who burst out shouting before Mass for unknown reasons.

We ended up having a forum to discuss the removal of the priest and the pain to parishioners who missed the priest and for those who were hurt and confused by the whole clergy abuse scandal.

Sounds nice, doesn’t it. It was one of the most wounding experiences I have ever been through.

I happen to be a child sex abuse survivor as well as a date rape survivor. The nice thing about the clergy abuse scandal was that it helped me come to terms with these two events that I never forgot but also never talked about. But coming to terms with child sex abuse and date rape can take years. Add on top of that the parish staff calling the police on me and telling everyone including my husband that I was mentally unstable and the resulting divorce and trauma that followed because my husband had a habit of yelling at me for up to eight hours at a time—something I told the parish priest about so they can’t say they didn’t know.

Well, I was emotionally devastated and struggling in the years before this forum. A wise man named John McCord told me to go see a therapist so I went to see a therapist. I was stilling consulting with that therapist almost every week at the time of the forum on clergy abuse in my parish. I wanted to share my story of how the former pastor groomed my son and me. My therapist was afraid that because I had been roughly treated by many members of the parish, that I would be roughly treated again. She advised me to tell the stories of others hurt by this same priest so I could establish a pattern of behavior by the priest and the Franciscans. So when the forum came that is what I did. I told the story of a survivor who I met in person who had been abused by the same priest and who had come forward in the 1980-81 school year at St.Anthony’s seminary. He had come forward again when the abuse at the seminary was investigated in 1993 and again in (I think) 1995 and 1996. The newspapers were not interested in the story, but they did report it when the clergy abuse scandal blew up in 2002. The Franciscans originally provided the survivor with only one year of therapy. They may have provided more since. I don’t know. But he remained very fragile and wounded. He was so chronically depressed that he was unable to hold down a steady job and lived by doing odd jobs and sleeping on friend’s couches.

I was not able to move from his story or to the story of the parish’s former Youth Minister who was harassed by the priest for not allowing him to have unsupervised contact with the church’s youth or my own story as other parishioners were allowed to interrupt me, criticize me, and put me down. And the Victim’s Assistant who knew my story because I shared it with

7/15/2018 10:06:26 pm

One of the most important things a survivor (or secondary survivor) can do for themselves is to make their presence known to the church through their respective Victim Assistance Coordinator (VAC).

That's not easy to do. And not everyone is capable or willing to deal directly with the church. But those who can, should be prepared to challenge the VAC (if necessary) to do the job they were hired to do.

Nothing beats going on record with the church. Whenever you document anything it empowers you and makes it all the more difficult for the church to deny the truth when it gets caught in its own lie.

All VACs have their own way of dealing with problems within the confines of a strict set of norms. Not all of them run their office and interact with survivors the same way.

Conservative dioceses tend to have more timid VACs--but not always. More liberal dioceses lean toward a more progressive outreach--but, once again, not always. Some VACs are terrible. Some are ineffective. Others are good. And still others are incredibly compassionate and committed.

One survivor can have a horrible experience with a particular VAC, while another finds satisfaction with the very same one.

I've personally met and worked with dozens of VACs from all over the country. The vast majority of them, in my experience, have demonstrated a genuine desire to help survivors--even if advocacy means working outside the box. Trust your own experiences.

MSP

7/16/2018 12:56:08 am

Virginia, just like what happened to you, I know people who were stonewalled by the staff at Simon and Jude. That makes them enablers and abusers too. They should have stopped Fr. Daniel long before the children stopped coming to church. One of the teachers told me Fr. Daniel abuses his power but was too afraid to do anything about it.

Anyone must report abuse or the possibility of abuse especially mandated reporters required by law. After seeing the link above about what he does after a shower, it should be so obvious to everyone that sex energy = possibility of abuse. Mrs C. in the parish office who wrote on the other web page that Fr. Daniel is hated beyond words, please ask the following staff and volunteers if they have reported him yet. Their phone numbers must be easy to find in the parish office so you can talk to them privately: Fr. Dan Lackie, Fr. Rusty Shaughnessey, Fr. Ryan Thornton, Fr. Vincent Nguyen, Colette O’Bannon, Mark Purcell, Chris Sumpter, Colleen Murray, Maureen O’Day, Shirl Giacomi, Scott Melvin, Ron Lowenberg, Kim Bernard, Connie Greyshock, Nancy Thornhill, Maureen Van Winkle, Doug Duchene, Russ Smith, Dottie Cardullo, Frank Leingang, Kent Hayden, Nicole Hunt, Steve Peterson, Maria Dzida, Terry Stodolka, Sabrina Gannon, Richard Ballesteros, Laura Canzone, Leslie Gerken, Erika Rowe, Erica Walenkcewicz, Patricia Chasteler, Mary Wicke, Katheryn Calvillo, Carl Benninger, Ariel Vapor, Barbara Hayden, Tom Gillespie, Gail Dyer, Audry Anardarian, Laura DiCrisi, Betty Croteau, Bernice Tomko, Scott Cool, Tom Molinaro, Elaine Barbin, Joseph Chasteler, John Richmond, Steve Hiskey, Bob Egan, Lee Tuhy, Lee Graham, Chris Velardi, Dave Desmond, George Wilfert, Ken Martinez, Mike Rangel, Susan McCortney, Katey Dadakis, Sharon Flowers, Karen Bravata, Terry Nowling, Ann Benson, Sara Jones, Doreen Bettencourt, Sylvia Cobbett and Steve Byars. Thank you Mrs. C!

7/16/2018 07:43:03 am

I know some of those people are no longer around but they still have an obligation to file a report about what they know happened when they were here, like any harassment, abuse, inappropriate comments or the theft of funds Theresa talked about above. If you think about it Mrs. C., anyone showing up to work or to volunteer or who gives any amount of money for him to misuse is one of his enablers. Do we really want a few more years under his control and his mental problems? The only way to get rid of him is to stop enabling him and stop supporting him. A complete boycott of our Time, Talent and Treasure from all of us at Simon and Jude. Then watch how fast he is gone.

Deb O.

7/17/2018 09:05:00 am

Oh this makes me so mad! They should have told us about Father Daniel before he came here. He picked apart my kids faith and I can’t get them to go to church anymore. They used to make fun of his sermons when they did go with us. He sounds bizarre with his ego and does not do things he talks about. Like on his July 9 parish email. “SSJ is a great, welcoming and nurturing community to support us in the transformation process.” And his parish vision at the bottom “To transform hearts by being Christ to others, working for peace, justice and care of creation.“ To make SSJ welcoming again let’s start by tearing down the ugly bars on the playground.

Robert

7/17/2018 10:47:31 am

Hypocrisy can’t be part of our church any more. The Sunday bulletin a couple of days ago made me think about it. I am going to quote what the bishop wrote here too.

“Whereas, I ask the faithful not to overlook or undervalue the pious, but nowadays set aside and often forgotten pratice, of the offering up of one’s sufferings for the souls in purgatory or for grown children who, for whatever reason(s), no longer practice the true faith nor avail themselves regularly of the sacrament of reconcilition so as to help prepare their hearts most fully for the spiritual blessings of the new Cathedral;”

It’s worth repeating his own words “…grown children who for whatever reason no longer practice the true faith...”I know first hand that Bishop Vann has received a lot of details about what is going on here. For him to act unaware of the reason kids left SSJ is pretty reckless of him.

SSJ Mom

7/17/2018 11:56:02 am

Omg the playground was a disaster on the VBS BBQ day. Barica went ballistic that day when he saw few of the kids playing there. He yelled at the parents, the kids, the VBS volunteers it was so crazy that a lot of us couldn’t really enjoy the kid’s performance.

Ex-SSJ

7/17/2018 12:45:42 pm

My kids got yelled at by Fr. Daniel on the field too! They went to school there but he told them they were trespassing because it was a weekend. I told Fr. Dan it was not right. He said he would talk to him but he must not have if he is still yelling. I don’t understand why kids being on the field is such a big deal. Did this happen to anyone else? If you don’t say something it is like it never happened and he gets away with it again and again. Yelling is frankly abusive and can’t come from a priest of all people. It is not rational behavior what’s wrong with him? Mine want nothing to do with SSJ. They know most of their class don’t go there anymore either. It makes me sick frankly because it was a great place. What do the Franciscans need to have happen before they do something have him hit a kid? He is too angry. Bishop, are you reading what is going on and why kids don’t go to church anymore? Wake up. Get him away from SSJ before something bad happens.

Vince G

7/17/2018 01:06:04 pm

I got this from a friend. Finally people are rising up. This Bafreaka a-hole yelled at our family too. (Yeah I said it and it felt good.) I thought we were the only ones. I saw the petition someone posted in the photos of SSJ’s Yelp page. It’s called “Sts. Simon and Rude”. We need to send him packing to get our reputation back.

Cindy

7/29/2018 01:40:45 pm

I just saw the petition. If you can’t find it here is what it says:

Sts. Simon and Rude

Once upon a time SSJ church was a welcoming, homey place where the Franciscan friars loved hearing about people’s recent life experiences, especially when it came to their faith journey. Now SSJ has become a place of unwelcoming judging friars disregard relationships made and maintained with the parishioners unless they have their pocketbooks ready.

Please sign if you are tired of being belittled by the pastor Fr. Daniel Barica, especially those that have been belittled by him for years without justice.

VBS volunteer

7/17/2018 03:22:26 pm

Yes I confirm the yelling on the last day of VBS. He was mad at everyone when he saw a couple of kids playing in the playground. I personally thought it was awkward. I also believe he is definitely unstable and could hurt the kids.

Regina Flores

7/17/2018 05:53:45 pm

I left SSJ because of this Barica. Shame on bishop Vann for not doing anything about him till now. I left a review on the OC diocese Facebook page and I think we all should do the same maybe this will urge Vann to do something.

SSJ mom

7/18/2018 04:00:39 pm

Peter and Heather please let’s not call people names or label them. Remember we are Catholics so let’s act likewise. I am so mad at Fr. Daniel after what he did to the school and I never liked M at all, in fact she’s the reason why I stopped going to the fish fry but I still think they shouldn’t drag us to their level. I am not optimistic at all regarding the new school year and I am for sure not happy about this new principal but I am hopeful that soon all of this will pass because there is no way the diocese will stay silent after reading all of our comments.

Andrew

7/18/2018 07:08:23 pm

I wanted to be a priest for a while but I could not handle no sex and gave up. I read through all this and googled Fr. Dan and Fr. Daniel and found out when they became priests. Fr. Dan was ordained in 1996 when he was in his 30’s. Fr. Daniel was 3 years later in 1999 around 40. That is a whole second life. I could not turn it off early on so its got to be harder for someone used to sex. I am trying to figure out why someone said Fr. Daniel thinks he is untouchable and why Fr Dan still does nothing about all this. Some sort of retaliation? Bear with me because I am just trying to think about possibilities. Nobody expected other priests that got caught to be having sex. What if Fr Dan won’t do anything because he is afraid of retaliation from Fr Daniel exposing intimate times they had when they both lived here? Remember they were ordained much older to begin with so maybe they could not stop. Someone said they know Fr Michael is gay so he could have been part of this and left from retaliation worries too. I don’t know. This whole situation about what is happening here makes me want to throw up. Reading what the students wrote is sad. They should not have to go through any of this. Its our fault for allowing it.

Mike from SSJ

7/18/2018 07:13:27 pm

I am a student at SSJ and all I all I want is to get our P.E Coach Smith back please. I am hoping that he will be back and attend my class’s graduation in few years.

Fight for SSJ

7/18/2018 07:50:19 pm

I hope the diocese acts fast before the story gets published in the OC Register or any other local newspaper. We need to keep our dirty laundry from being aired in public If Barica leaves I think we should delete all posts and move on. We’ll need to focus on rebuilding our community.

SSJ Rebel

7/18/2018 08:30:21 pm

I want Coach Smith back and Mrs cooper and Mrs Pinkofsky and Miss Rowe and Mrs Tucker and Mrs Velastegui and all the other teachers and helpers. I want to go back in time when SSJ was a happy loving community. Father Daniel if you’re reading this we know you hate being with us and guess what ?! We are not too fond of you either and for your information even the ones who pretend to like you are all phonies. My mom for example laughs with you all the time after mass then goes home and tells my dad how much she hates you. I know what y’all must be thinking now !!! No, she’s not a hypocrite she has to do this otherwise we’ll have to leave our parish. I feel so relieved to finally be able to express my feelings about this whole SSJ chaos.

Scott

7/18/2018 08:50:52 pm

Hi Rebel. Now that is a name from the good ol’ days. I saw the word “enabler” many times in these blogs. I understand why your mom laughed with Fr Daniel after mass, but this made her an enabler, just like all the others who were afraid to say something. She did not have to leave the church, she just needed to tell him the truth. Not doing this confirms and condones his behavior. Giving him a hug tells him he is liked and he is doing a good job. Do you see the mixed message? Its not your moms fault but she is one of the many adults that should have told him how she really feels. She still can this Sunday. You and her should also text Fr Dan and Mr Smith because they needs to know. And ask her to stop donating for now.

7/24/2018 12:39:08 am

Rebel,

I am following up to see if your mom finally told Fr Daniel the truth about how she feels this last Sunday? She needs to be brave. You said it’s a relief to express your feelings. I hope she or another adult did not tell you to now keep quiet. That is how this man called a priest goes unchecked. Be brave and tell your classmates to express their feelings too. No one not even your parents will be told who writes here. Don’t be afraid to tell the truth. Fr Dan and the bishop will read what you all write and it will tug at their hearts. The same goes for your parents. If your class keeps quiet Fr Daniel might still be here for your graduation.

SSJ parishioner

7/19/2018 02:54:31 pm

The diocese need feed back from us please send your complaints to Fr. Daniel Reader in the Bishops’ Office.

In regards to the principal/staffing at school, new complaints go to Dr. Erin Barisano, Superintendent of Schools. You can either email or send a letter to Dr. Erin at the pastoral center (13280 Chapman Avenue, Garden Grove, 928

Please don’t be afraid, let them know that you need to stay anonymous. Everyone who feels uncomfortable about what’s going on needs to act fast. You never know what’s going to happen to our children if Daniel stays at SSJ. If you cate about your kids you need to say something. Now is the best time and the more people to contact the diocese the faster they can act.

Joan

7/20/2018 10:05:12 am

Just yesterday Forbes wrote a story about Papa John’s we see in the news. It describes a toxic culture, mistreated employees and firing anyone who disagreed with management. It says the owner made sexual statements and inappropriate comments, mocked people, was prone to outbursts, and described himself as untouchable. And “when he was done with you, he was done with you”. It even says the co-CEO had mistress. Does this sound familiar?

If its not OK at a pizza company it’s really not OK at a church. We should be ashamed and embarrassed we let this go so long and stop this like Mary said they did in Santa Barbara. It is betrayal of our trust in the Franciscans for them to not tell us about his past. They lied to us and that is inexcusable.

7/20/2018 02:13:52 pm

School mom P you could be right about the diocese but we need to try. I am thinking of Moffet as a plan B but I love SSJ and I want to fight for it. If Santa Barbara, San Francisco and Los Angeles were able to get rid of Barica then why can’t we do that too. SSJ is worth fighting for.

School mom P

7/20/2018 04:13:22 pm

Yes its worth fighting for but we need adversaries to help us, not the franciscans or the diocese who have obviously been protecting him all these years. After what he did, I won't give him the chance to mess up my kids. They know what comes out of his mouth in church is not what he does. The public schools accept anyone even last minute registrations so my fight deadline is the start of the school year.

7/20/2018 04:23:20 pm

Totally agree with you and I am planning to leave by the start of the school year as well if Daniel is still there.

Thomas

7/21/2018 12:11:05 am

This is depressing. I am trying to process what I just learned here. His last church actually fought to get rid of him. Why weren’t we told. I am pretty disgusted with Fr. Dan and Fr. Rusty right now. Telling us was not optional.

Sally O.

7/22/2018 05:03:46 am

I don’t know what to say about this man but they need to get him out of SSJ before school starts. He is a big bully for sure. They can bring us one of the priests from St Vincent De Paul and remove the Franciscans.

7/23/2018 06:04:00 pm

We received a pitiful email from the new principal. Part of it was a pathetic plea to have patience with this chaos caused by Barica and the other part is a fast food menu. We’re used to Crystal’s encouragement quotes and meaningful bible verses while this new one is talking about their major failure and food. What a loss.

7/23/2018 08:06:32 pm

I have been verbally attacked by Barica, went to the parish, then the diocese. Still nothing, in fact they made me feel like I was the problem. It would be great it you could publish excerpt of the school newsletter here.

Johnson

7/23/2018 07:06:51 pm

I have been following this closely. For those of us that do not have kids in school, can someone please post the principles email verbatim? I think all are interested for seeing what she said about the chaos and barica. And any student with how they feel right now, or what they heard anyone say? We have to speak up or live with more chaos.

7/23/2018 09:41:05 pm

Here is a big part of her message
“Dear Sts. Simon & Jude Community,

This message comes to you collectively from among your leaders at SSJ! We (Father Daniel, Pastor; Mrs. Sharon Daniels, Assistant Principal; Mrs. Colleen Murray, Pastoral Administrator; and I, your new School Principal) hope that everyone has been enjoying their summer and been taking a fair amount of time for rest and relaxation! We hope that your children swam in the ocean, spent an afternoon in a cool movie theater, read on the front porch, and played until the sun went down. We hope that you have had juicy burgers, ice cold milkshakes, and tasty watermelon.

In this Sunday's gospel, Jesus invites his co-workers to "rest a while." This is such a great image for summertime when school is out of session. It's also a reminder that as all baptized Christians partner with Christ in the mission field, a well-deserved rest also provides time to reflect and discern where we want to go. In that regard, we hope that you have been able to accept and embrace the personnel changes made recently as necessary for adjusting to the current student enrollment and to keep school tuition from increasing. We understand that such changes can cause anxiety and a fear of the unknown. Our hope is to alleviate your concerns and support this wonderful school as it moves into its next chapter.

We wanted to make sure that we share important information with you as it comes up throughout the remaining weeks of summer. We are doing our best to address certain aspects of the school that will need to be in place for the start to a successful school year. It is our philosophy to share this information with faculty and staff first and then communicate it to the parent community as a whole. We ask for your patience as we work hard to prepare for the new year and your understanding as there are pieces of information that we may not be at liberty to share until details are finalized. Our approach to parent communication is transparency and we promise to do our very best to keep the lines of communication clear and open.

As indicated above, personnel changes were made in consultation with the Diocese of Orange, Department of Catholic Schools. Since then we have worked hard to accommodate those changes. “

She then gave some updates on the faculty change and added that “ In the year 2018, security is of the highest concern and the new front office will be the first step in creating a safer space for your children and our faculty and staff. With this renovation, will come some protocol changes. We ask for your patience and understanding as we implement these changes to keep your loved ones safe. The new protocol will be shared with you before the school year begins.

There are many more things in the works that we hope will best serve you and your children for a great year! We will communicate them to you throughout the remainder of the summer.

Thank you for maintaining a positive outlook during this difficult transition! We can't thank you enough for your support as we acclimate and work our hardest for you!

As always, please reach out to us with any questions and concerns. We are here to ease any anxiety you might have. We ask that you please have faith and patience as we start off the year on a positive note.

Blessings-
Dr. Colette Marie O'Bannion, Father Daniel, Mrs. Sharon Daniels, and Mrs. Colleen Murray”

7/23/2018 10:29:01 pm

There are 2 areas that everyone should look at very carefully in the principals/staff letter. It states that families have "anxiety and fear of the unknown".
#1 Statement:
"We understand that such changes can cause anxiety and a fear of the unknown. Our hope is to alleviate your concerns and support this wonderful school as it moves into its next chapter."
-------------
If there is no problems, why would they state there is?
How will they alleviate the concerns?
What is the new chapter going to be like?
------------
Secondly, note that the Diocese of Orange consulted with SSJ to make personnel changes:
#2 Statement:
"personnel changes were made in consultation with the Diocese of Orange, Department of Catholic Schools. Since then we have worked hard to accommodate those changes."
------------
Did that involve diocesan attorneys?
Why does the diocese NOT do anything about complaints about Barica from parishioners, youth from the parish and other priests?
Does anyone know how much money has been spent on legal matters due to Barica since he has been at SSJ?
What about extra problems with construction?
-------------
TO GET THEIR ATTENTION: STOP DONATING
It is my hope and prayer that the SSJ will be able regain peace and dignity. I believe the only way is to get rid of Barica. Since Barica came to SSJ the community has been divided, school families have left and parishioners have gone to other places of worship. Barica should resign or be removed. It is my prayer to stop the fear, anxiety, and abuse.
How can the people come together and make a plan to get rid of Barica?
The easiest is to simply STOP donating - tell all your friends to STOP DONATING!
#RemoveBarica

SSJ alumni family

7/24/2018 08:00:06 am

I bet my kid’s education that the new principle was not warned about Barica and what she stepped into. A new hire is supposed to have full disclosure but now she is taking on stress that should not be part of her job. Two things come to mind when I read her words: “…personnel changes were made in consultation with the Diocese of Orange…” This tells me the Diocese did not first consult with SSJ before deciding who to axe but it was the other way around. Take Russ Smith for example. Fr. Daniel must have had his name on a proposed termination list so the diocese would have known in advance. He must have been doing something wrong if he was let go here, but then the diocese hired him an hour later. For his new employer to allow him to get fired and then hire him so quickly can’t be right.

It also says they have to adjust to the current student enrollment. What happened to our long wait list? They should do a survey and ask those families why they left. But you probably already figure its Fr. Daniel. SSJ used to be a place where if you did not start out in kindergarten it was almost impossible to get in. These are good economic times so enrollment should be just as strong.

Then she says the changes are to keep tuition from increasing. School families, take that as your fore warning that tuition will go up. Until Fr. Daniel is gone, enrollment will continue to decline plus they will have to pay for his cost of remodeling the front office. The ones left behind will have to foot the bill. Security is the excuse to remodel but no amount of security can keep a bad person off the sidewalk. All you have to do is look at the fence around the playground to realize that the thousands he spends is about his peace and quiet after hours, not security.

I like the SSJ mom’s idea of putting the money saved in tuition in her kid’s college fund. We live in a very desired school district, Eader and Moffet have great teachers. Paying for college was so hard and I wish I sent my kids to public school instead.

SSJ mom E

7/24/2018 04:33:19 pm

I have few questions regarding this whole situation.

Number one: Crystal had been SSJ’s principal for 21 years. The school was one of the Top schools in OC and not just HB. The students were excelling both academically and in Sports. We used to have a waitlist until 2012 when Daniel showed up. Many families have left the parish after his famous oil rubbing homily. Then his dispute with his neighbors. Then his uncontrollable tantrums...... etc. However, he let her go along with other wonderful faculty members and his excuse was that the enrollment was down. Seriously???!!!!!

Number 2: This “lady M” if there is nothing going on between them then how come he fired every single person who she had an issue with ? How come she is the only one allowed to show up at the parish office and see him without making an appointment? How come whenever he goes she’s there ? I literally see her before and after mass talking to him, at school, in his office, the playground...... Did anyone hear how she talks to him ?? Believe me she can tell him anything and he’ll never get mad , can the rest of us do the same ??? What’s her secret ? From what I know most of the popular moms and many others hate her but still talk to her out of fear. My question is why is everyone so scared of her ?

SSJ mom who won't be stopped

7/25/2018 07:48:24 pm

I was alerted to this website by fellow SSJ parents. I am happy to see the actionable steps that are listed here and hope that many people follow them.

We are in a very dark time at our school, but we all have to remember that we will be here long after Fr. Daniel is gone. It is our job to rally together and make sure this ridiculous situation doesn't effect our kids. I want to stay at our school, my kids are happy and are getting a great education. I can only hope that our new principal isn't a puppet and follow his incredibly bad ideas.

I have written to the Archdiocese on multiple occasions regarding Fr. Daniel, unfortunately I have not heard back, but it makes me feel like I am doing something. The following is part of a letter I recently sent:
I am writing to you as a concerned parent of Sts. Simon & Jude students, and as a parishioner of the church. As you are well aware, there have been numerous personnel and policy changes at the school over this past year that have been wildly unpopular and have made dozens of wonderful families leave.
There are many reasons for the problems, but the heart of the issue is Fr. Daniel Barica. The problems stem from Fr. Daniels complete lack of leadership skills, his bullying behavior, and his questionable actions and words.
My family has spent 6 years at the school and 10 as parishioners. I have watched the community feeling diminish year after year since his arrival. I am at the point where I have had enough. I stayed silent hoping the typical 6 year assignment would be up and he would leave, only to find out that he was renewed for 4 more years. Is anyone paying attention to what is happening?
Fr. Daniels leadership, or lack of can be documented on so many levels including:
• Not renewing Mrs. Pinkofsky’s contract after 21 years of service? She was an amazing leader who stood up to Fr. Daniel and saved our school from so many of his bad ideas only to be rewarded with being terminated.
• Not renewing Mr. Russ Smith’s contract, and denying to people that he did so. Russ Smith was the hardest working man at SSJ, and did more for the school than anyone. Firing him was Fr. Daniel being vendictive for the ideas and policies that he wouldn’t implement. The Diocese is lucky to have him, but he be sorely missed on campus.
• Spending millions on a parking lot design and putting a band aid on so many other needed updates.
• Mis-managing the updates and construction on campus. “No one is going to give something for nothing…they want something in return” in referring to a long time parishioner who is an Archdiocese approved contractor when offering his services for free to update Colman Hall.
• Completely mis-managing the personnel changes within the school. All of them could and should have been with dignity and class, but instead he treated them all like a game.
• Not allowing teachers on campus when the new principle is touring
• NEVER shows up to school functions, or walks the halls but makes all of the decisions?
• Telling the school marketing committee “I don’t care if our enrollment goes down…the only thing I care about that each family shows up to church on Sunday.”
• Cancelling all school summer programs
• Cancelling the Santa breakfast
• The list goes on…..
Fr. Daniel’s bulling behavior:
• “Children are supposed to be seen & not heard”
• “Parents don’t care about the sacrament, only the party.” Referring to first communion.
• Openly mocking people in stories he is relaying about confessions.
• Makes rude remarks when you attend mass “nice of you to show up” “not on a party weekend?” “we won’t see you after first communion”
• Blatant rudeness to school parents
• Yelling at students who play on the fields during non-sanctioned school activities
Questionable actions
• Inappropriate sermons during Sunday masses AND the Friday liturgy service for the kids.
• Rumors of stealing from the collection
• Rumors of an affair with a parishioner and school parent (THIS alone should be investigated and grounds for a transfer)
• Legal battles with neighbors who have lived there for decades (due to his rudeness and behavior)
• Aligned himself with parents who spread gossip and spread rumors of things he says, does or wants to implement throughout the school.
We are currently living in a society that is integrity is in crisis and we ignoring what are leaders are doing and accepting bullying and bad behavior. We shouldn’t accept that from the church too. All of these actions are inexcusable from a leader, but completely indefensible coming from a priest-someone who should be respected and followed. I implore you to please help save our school and parish and remove Fr. Daniel from it!

Save SSJ

7/28/2018 08:32:40 am

Great letter! Thanks for being a brave mom. Can anyone else post what they wrote? That will help us.

Michael P.

7/28/2018 07:41:24 pm

You wrote the Archdiocese multiple times and they never responded? I wrote twice and nothing back either. How are these people called Catholics? They are supposed to lead us not manipulate us by keeping us in check. Fr Daniel really told the school marketing committee he does not care if school enrollment goes down? Going to Catholic school is the biggest part of giving kids our faith. An hour on Sunday won’t work. Not caring about losing students tells me the church is really about collecting money and not saving souls. Watch your pocketbooks school families because less and less enrollment has to equate to higher tuition. I won’t be one of the families that sticks around and pays through the nose because of his attitude.

Anthony

7/28/2018 09:14:31 am

Kat, Keep in mind that the complaints go back to long before Fr Daniel first came to SSJ. They already had years to do their investigation. By telling your daughter and her friends to calm down, that will just take the heat off and allow him to keep hurting our kids. When people stop complaining the diocese will take that as problem solved. What if your kids and grandkids lose their faith because of him? This might already have happened so you should ask them. Don’t tolerate one more excuse by a church leader to delay. They must take immediate action like CBS did when they received complaints about their leader.
Reviewing these comments, Mrs C in the parish office, do you have an update for us about Fr Daniel? What about hearing from the SSJ student who said his mom laughs with him after church then goes home and says how much she hates him? Do other students want to write about what he has done to your school? This is a good place to continue to vent anonymously for the church leaders to see. Trusting our faith and keeping quiet and obedient is exactly what Rev Reader and the Franciscans want. Keeping us quiet means they won’t have to make a change like they were forced to do when the people of Santa Barbara and Los Angeles decided to fight back. He should have been removed from SSJ just because of what he did to those past parishioners, long before our teachers were fired and before all the kids and families left us. This is a tragedy that would have been avoided if Fr Dan and the church did not decide to cover up his past.

Mrs C

7/28/2018 09:29:17 am

Anthony, I hate to tell you this but Daniel is taking all of this very lightly. He reads the blog and is confident that nothing will happen to him. A lot of the parish staff are kissing up to him but talk about him from behind his back. Let me tell you this, SSJ was never this bad before. I mean, we had our disagreements but we were never this fearful, hateful, fake or two faced. Thanks to the atmosphere Daniel created now you can’t even trust the person sitting next to you.

8/2/2018 03:04:52 am

I am so sorry for how divided this community has become. It makes me very sad....please tell everyone you can to:
STOP DONATING TO SSJ
that is the only real control we have. I stopped donating a while back

I work with Mrs C

7/28/2018 12:12:20 pm

Here is an email string I was able to retrieve back to 2014 that shows complaints back then. This guy was one of our largest contributors at $1000 per month! I do not see where he ever reinstated his donations.

Colleen R. Murray
Sep 01 07:31 AM
Mercy and Mr. ,

I am not sure if you included Mr. in the email that you sent to me. I am including him now. Please honor Mr. ’s request and suspend his donations beginning today and not after the September donation has posted. Mr. , I am so sorry for the upset that you are experiencing. I would be happy to meet with you and the parish pastoral administrator in order to address and discuss your concerns. Please let me know if there is a time that works best for you.

Colleen Murray
Finance Manager
Sts. Simon & Jude Church
714-794-1854
--------
Mercy M. (Customer Support)
Sep 01 05:19 AM
Dear ,

Thank you for contacting ParishPay,
As per our conversation, I will cancel you scheduled donation on 09/06/2014 after it gets taken out for the month of September. I will email you notifying you once this is done.

Best Regards,
Mercy M.

Client Services Representative
YapStone
PLEASE NOTE: Attachments will always show below the e-signature as a clickable link/file that you can
open/save/print.
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Aug 31 11:05 PM
Please suspend my donations to Saints Simon and Jude Parish until further notice.

In talking to other parishioners, I am hearing a lot of complaints about wasted money and Fr. Daniels' anger issues.

I am also concerned about the loose way funds are being used by Fr. Daniel such as the remodel of the priests' houses and the upcoming construction lot project.

Are there budgets for these projects, and if so, where are they? Who approved them other than Fr Daniel?

I have been hearing other very disturbing comments concerning Father Daniel all of them within this past since Fr. Daniel was sent to SSJ.

Before I ever continue donating again to SSJ I would like to know how much in legal bills has spent by SSJ since Fr. Daniel arrived?

I work very hard for the money I earn and I don't appreciate my donations being wasted.

Parish finances and information should be transparent to its donors and members. I need to agree with how money is being spent in order to resume my donations to the parish.

Thank you and I wait for a timely reply.

7/28/2018 02:20:10 pm

I am also concerned about what is happening at SSJ. Many children are leaving the school because of Father Daniel - and we probably will as well if things don't change.

For those not receiving a satisfactory response from local church officials, you might want to reach out to the "US Corporate Office" who has people in charge of public affairs (they are the ones who end up dealing with the bad press that the church gets nationally).

Contact them and let them know what is happening and that the local church officials are not responding or doing anything to address a priest talking about his "sexual energy" in front of children. Along with the other abuses that make a "juicy scandal" for an investigative reporter.

Public Affairs
The Office of Public Affairs represents the Catholic Bishops of the United States to the media and the media to the bishops. Responsibilities include preparing and distributing statements and other resources for the media, arranging for interviews with bishops and staff of the USCCB, organizing press conferences, responding to media queries and credentialing media for coverage of such events as the bishops' annual meetings.

Media inquiries are welcomed via email (media-relations@usccb.org) or by calling 202.541.3200. Non-media callers may call 202.541.3000 for assistance.

http://www.usccb.org/about/public-affairs/index.cfm

If they get involved hopefully that gets the local church officials to act who are trying to sweep this under the rug.

M.H

7/28/2018 04:32:11 pm

First of all everyone is blaming Fr. Daniel when the actual responsibility falls on the diocese. The diocese placed him at SSJ and even if he wants to leave he can’t do it without its consent.

Second, letting Crystal, Russ and all the others go was a huge mistake and it’s all because of this grisly M. Who needs to leave SSJ and go back to wherever the hell she came from

Patrick B.

7/28/2018 05:51:51 pm

Here is what a Men’s Club Member wrote on the Worthy Adversary website about the movie Spotlight. He was in a meeting with Mel Jurisich who said it was his decision to send Daniel to SSJ. Makes sense because how would the diocese know which Franciscan was available?
The primary fault is Daniel because of how he acts and treats people. Hardly “do unto others” and most of the other commandments if you ask me. But just as responsible are all of his enablers like Fr Dan and Fr Ryan now that I realize how they covered for him. Rev Reader, Bishop Vann, and the rest of the diocese are also enablers by not taking action when the complaints started years ago. Most of all, any of us who keep donating, keep volunteering, keep working, and keep saying hi to him after mass as if we like him, are the worst enablers of all. I quit because I could not take him any longer. And yes, I know he stole from us. We need to stop supporting him like the other churches did to get rid of him - or keep paying the price with our children’s lost souls who leave the church.

Mens Club member says:
July 7, 2016 at 9:19 pm
“I was afraid to speak up earlier about this. In February a group of us from SSJ went to the annual mens retreat in Malibu. This time the former Provincial Fr. Mel Jurisich was there. During a meeting behind closed doors he said he was the one who decided to send Fr. Daniel to SSJ to “straighten him out”. This shocked me because that means the Franciscans know he has a problem.
There were a lot of complaints when Fr. Daniel was at St. Francis Parish in LA. When too many people stopped donating Mel said he was transferred to Santa Barbara to keep an eye on him. Then after those parishioners got upset Mel decided to transfer him to SSJ. Mel even said Fr. Daniel owes him one. I guess giving him a promotion after he upset all those people would be a very special favor. This makes me think there is something more to their relationship.
It is not surprising to find out lots of students left the school seeing how many don’t come to church anymore. I talked to one of them who said its because of how mad Fr. Daniel and the principle are all the time. Some were getting detentions every week but they did not care. And this student told me most of the ones that are staying say they don’t ever want to come back to SSJ after they graduate. That must be why the average age of this congregation is rising so fast. Cantor Patrick and others quit. Mark and Maurice should tell you the real reason.
Moving Fr. Daniel around is like how they moved problem priests from church to church. Many in our group are not donating now. I don’t know how many more people need to stop donating before they finally do something but I think that day is coming.”

SSJ Finance Council

7/28/2018 08:26:47 pm

This makes construction projects an even bigger fundraiser because of the interest the diocese receives from us on his loans. At 10% interest, that is an additional $180,000 we must pay the first year. The interest goes down as the loan is paid back each year but it is still substantial. By the time we pay off the bishop, our new parking lot could end up costing us $4-5 million. And the bishop probably got $1 million+ in kick backs and interest payments added to his bank account that we end up paying for. Imagine the good all this money could have done instead.
The church should have been honest with our contractors and told them that they don’t accept free anymore because construction is now a huge fundraiser for the diocese.
What I am saying about all this can easily be verified with an investigation. Get a copy of the diocese construction contract to see the kick back they require. Is that even legal? To investigate the embezzlement, start with Father Shaughnessey, Mark Purcell, and Dan Hart who I read also knows about this. Talk to the Finance Council. You might need to give people a lie detector test or a deposition under oath. As Catholics we should not have to do this because we are supposed to tell the truth. But with all the cover up going on I would not be surprised if people decide to lie until they are forced to tell the truth.

Nancy

7/29/2018 01:18:42 pm

What the… Why is this crook of a priest still here then? I never liked him but I did not know he was stealing from us. It looks like they also need to depose Bishop Vann because of what Fr. Rusty told him. And Fr. Dan because he is a Franciscan leader. Fr. Rusty must have told him about the money too.

Cancelling Parish Pay

8/8/2018 01:34:17 pm

Thank you for telling me what happens to my money…I was mislead…I thought the Franciscans controlled it!....I am sure God won’t mind me stopping my donations and give to another charity that I know how my money is being used…I do not like Fr. Daniel anyway…I think of a couple of four letter words when I see him…I have to go to confession but I can't help thinking this...Butt Wipe

SSJ mom who’s very upset

7/29/2018 05:30:50 am

I still can’t comprehend how could Father Daniel let Coach Smith go? My kids were devastated on the last day of school when they learned that he’s leaving. This man would always be there greeting the kids in the morning, joking with them during recess, playing with then during P.E, safety wise he used to be there watching the school and making sure none of the homeless are getbear the students. He would set up the barricades, hold the stop sign during pick up , watch the kids crossing during drop off ..... all of the kids adored him. I told mine that father Daniel is the one behind all of this and that even though he’s a priest he doesn’t act like one. I made sure they know how bad this man is and told them to stay away from him if they see him at school. I personally never felt like he’s genuine, his homilies were all fake and he alwseemed too dramatic and eccentric.
As for the new principal he hired, I feel sorry for her. She doesn’t know what she got herself into.
Even if we get rid of Daniel, the mess he left behind won’t be fixed that easily.

another school mom

8/1/2018 10:49:47 am

thank you for the info. i will be contacting all these people also fr. dan. I feel pretty duped by this jerk off. its bad for a catholic to say but i can’t stop thinking about him doing just that with the oil he puts on himself. the momma bear in me will not allow him to do anything to my kids even looking at them funny. either he is gone or we are gone. that is 3 more students with no back log to replace them. my kids ssj friends really like eader and sowers. if i stay here i can’t protest by stopping my donations because my tuition will go up. i won’t be one of the families left that has to pay more because everyone else leaves.

SSJ Mom T

8/1/2018 01:16:16 pm

I hope this prune Daniel leaves our school and go puts oil on himself elsewhere away from our children.

John C

8/2/2018 01:23:21 pm

I notice that no one has written in support. Probably because they don’t want to be revealed as his protectors. Please read these articles that show Fr Dan in Santa Barbara and the other Franciscan enablers are just as accountable. They should all leave the priesthood for what they have done to our church.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4957586/Anthony-Bourdain-attacks-Hollywood-silence-Weinstein.html
https://nypost.com/2018/01/21/its-time-to-go-after-abuse-enablers/

S.T. - school family

8/3/2018 09:07:22 am

I am sick over all this. Thanks for this comparison because it is very similar to SSJ. I think Fr Rusty and Fr Dan are just as culpable so they should step down too. Helping an abuser all the years they were here, and still helping him from afar by ignoring complaints can’t be part of their vows as priests. I just saw how Mary from SB wrote a couple of weeks ago that their church put up a fight to get rid of Fr Daniel. How come we were not informed? This means Fr Rusty and Fr Dan knew before he came to SSJ about reports of bad things he did that caused the parishioners up there to fight back. I would like to read the complaints from there and SSJ but I am sure they will never release them to us, which is just more cover up from our Christ based church. At least there is no school up there he also hurt. Mary, or anyone in SB, can you give us examples of things he did please? Helping each other will let us keep his anger and sex energy away from our school children. Thank you.

8/4/2018 09:32:00 am

This makes Mrs C in the parish office a coward for what she wrote anonymously. Someone needs to say what is going on behind the scenes. My take is he rounded them all up in the conference room and demanded to know which one of them is her. Am I right Mrs C? That is work place harassment and retaliation of a whistleblower. I hope you keep reporting whatever is not right. We are a church not a dictatorship.

H.K

8/4/2018 10:30:18 am

I don’t know what’s wrong with father Daniel. I was siding with him the whole time and although I had been following this blog religiously I disagreed with half of what was said. However, after reading what he posted in the weekly bulletin and the words he used to describe whoever disagrees with him I believe that he definitely doesn’t belong at SSJ. I believe he is not as bad as you all think but he does have some anger management issues and he is for sure unforgiving. I don’t think the diocese should allow such a pastor to work at a school because this is not the messag we want to deliver to our children. People who are posting anonymously are not cowards, they are fed up and don’t know what to do and after reading his post I doubt that anyone will be willing to meet with him or approach him in anyway.

School parent

8/4/2018 11:18:25 am

What he wrote in the bulletin uses Catholic guilt to try to shut us up…
“Murmuring becomes particularly unholy when it leads one to gossip or speak badly about another, whether what is spoken is true or untrue. Murmuring and gossip are destructive to communities and damaging to people’s reputations.” Well, people spoke the truth about Urban Meyer and that hurt his reputation. We are saying the truth about Father Daniel too to protect ourselves from him. His reputation was already trashed when LA and SB made him quit years ago. We should have been told! Not being honest with us is way more cowardly of the Franciscans than our anonymous posts. They were clearly afraid about telling us the truth. He should never have been sent here in the first place and there would be no reason for us to be writing any of this. Right now we don’t care about his reputation. We care about our kids.

Thinking Out Catholic Loud

8/4/2018 11:24:18 am

I am not sure if what is being written here is truth, based upon facts and hard, indisputable evidence or if it is merely gossip. It is abundantly clear that parishioners are upset with certain behaviors and actions taken by a pastor that have affected the parish and school. As a practicing Catholic, I feel it appropriate to write that it must remembered that gossip not only injures the persons about whom information is being told or from whom information is being withheld. I believe it appropriate to also point out that it also injures all those who read it, and the one telling or withholding. If what is written above is 1) true; and (2) factual with sufficient foundation AND with valid reason, then it may be wise to prayerfully discern and seek confidential pastoral advice on the best possible ways to proceed so as to NOT injure the Body of Christ (the faith community of SS Simon and Jude, pastoral leaders and all of our Catholic faith communities) through and by the use of this social communications media blog. It should go without saying that anonymous or not, the entire faith community of SS Simon and Jude has an opportunity to unite by way of our Gospel values. Jesus did not mince words and was very clear in his teachings regarding conflict resolution. At the heart of all of this is true sacrificial love, repentance and steadfast belief in the Gospel. Remember the woman at the well and how lovingly Jesus approached the woman in her sin.

The entire faith community of SS Simon and Jude being written about here are aggrieved because they are robbed of honor and reputation. The entire faith community of SS Simon and Jude and ALL of our Catholic faithful are affected by all of this discourse, every person who reads this.

Pope Francis once said in a homily, “We judge our brothers and sisters in our heart, and worse, when we talk about it with others, we are killer Christians.” Gossip is an injustice which fails to obey the command, “Let no evil speech proceed from your mouth; but that which is good, to the edification of faith, that it may administer grace to the hearers.” Ephesians 4:29 As well, I have listened to homilies that spoke to how the occasions of gossip violate No. 5 of the Ten Commandments, “Thou shall not kill.” Gossip kills the honor and reputation of the very people we are commanded to love. Again, the very people we are commanded to love all belong to the faith community of SS Simon and Jude as well as our Catholic faith community and local communities at large.

Let’s be reminded that as Catholics, we are also commanded to speak only good and necessary things, thereby assisting the elevation of our neighbors’ minds and hearts to higher things. This is a critical obligation of all of our Catholic faithful. Any speech to the contrary is a hindrance to that elevation, and an obstacle to grace. It is not only critical to the life of grace in our souls, but more importantly, that when we exercise self-control by not reacting and tame our tongues, we aid ourselves and others for peace in society. “For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases.” Proverbs 26:20

There is no doubt that our Catholic faith is being tested and under attack every day. In the words of St. John Vianney, “If something uncharitable is said in your presence, either speak in favor of the absent, or withdraw, or if possible, stop the conversation.” Also in the words of St. Francis de Sales, “When you hear ill of anyone, refute the accusation if you can in justice do so; if not, apologize for the accused on account of his intentions … and thus gently check the conversation, and if you can, mention something else favorable to the accused.” I can’t help but feel that what God may be trying to tell us in this SS Simon and Jude discourse is that as faithful followers of Jesus, we must minister to ALL those in need, which pretty much means ALL of us. We are all sinners in need of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Unless of course, you are a saint. Well then congratulations and please do intercede and pray for the rest of us.

That being said, I also believe that there are circumstances where it is absolutely necessary and right to reveal the faults of another, especially if it involves the serious and grave matter of sexual abuse. The Catechism of the Catholic Church qualifies the definition of nearly every sin of the tongue with phrases such as, “without sufficient foundation” and “without objectively valid reason.” Again, remember the woman at the well and how lovingly Jesus approached the woman in her sin. There are important lessons to learn here and discernment in the inner room is required when it concerns repentance, reconciliation, forgiveness, restoration and resolution.

While this blog appears to be helpful for those who have comment

8/4/2018 11:26:15 am

While this blog appears to be helpful for those who have commented above to vent their complaints and frustrations because of the anonymity they are afforded and that they appear to believe and justify that it is ok to make known the faults of another, as faithful Catholics, we must also check ourselves and be reminded that God commands us to forgive (or at the very least, to ask God for the desire to forgive) and be merciful to each other. Then we are to ask God to handle the justification and for Him to heal these wounds. The degree to which we forgive and show mercy to each other is the degree to which God forgives and shows His mercy to us. “So will my Heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives his brother from his heart.” Matthew 18:35
From the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops commentary on Matthew 18: 1-35: “Beginning with the warning that greatness in the kingdom of heaven is not measured by rank or power but by childlikeness, it deals with the care that the disciples must not take to cause the little ones to sin or to neglect them if they stray from the community, the correction of members who sin, the efficacy of the prayer of disciples because of the presence of Jesus, and the forgiveness that must be repeatedly extended to sinful members who repent.”

RMT

8/4/2018 11:51:19 am

Are you one of his enablers more concerned with Fr Daniel than our children?

8/4/2018 12:14:42 pm

I do not know your pastor. As a faithful and practicing Catholic, I am commanded to be concerned with ALL of our souls.

8/4/2018 02:22:10 pm

Read all this and you will know our pastor very well. We have already traded over 100 of our kids souls who don't come to church any longer because of him. That is the worst trade I can think of.

Seriously Father Daniel ????!!!!!!

8/4/2018 11:26:22 am

Father Daniel if you’re reading this couldn’t you just talk about Christian values and leave it at that ???? Did you have to bitch and call people names ???? Seriously father ????! We were trying to stay calm and wait for the diocese to deal with you but your bulletin just blew it ????!!!! Yes we are afraid of you because you do Not forgive your enemies like the Bible says , instead you fire them from their jobs even if they are good at it , got it Father , do you know now why we’re posting anonymously, it’s due to our fear of retaliation

Larry S

8/5/2018 10:08:19 pm

I agree with you Seriously. What an idiot! I bet he did not get today's bulletin approved by the diocese. He just keeps burying himself deeper. This is a new MeToo world and anyone in power even a priest is going to lose his job for any kind of abuse or for protecting abusers like the other priests are doing. Look what happened the last time we did not make priests accountable and all those kids got fondled. We don't trust this whack job and how he oils himself. Franciscans: He can't be allowed to speak to our school kids or do a school mass anymore. He has to go.

8/4/2018 03:21:15 pm

RMT: All is not lost. There is always hope. Despite the one man, the faith community in Christ can restore and bring the children back to their Catholic faith. Show them what steadfast love, trust and faith in Jesus Christ looks like. Focus on that, not the failings of one man. Anger and bitterness will only serve to drive the children further away from Christ. Godspeed.

8/4/2018 09:36:29 pm

Barica’s anger and bitterness is what drove my children away from Christ. They won’t think about coming back to church until he is gone. They told me most of their classes are saying the same thing. I can tell you are not an outsider like you want us to believe. You are one of his protectors.

8/5/2018 09:33:12 am

I do not know your pastor. It greatly saddens me what all above are experiencing.

My point is to "fight the good fight" to glorify God. 1 Timothy Chapter 4

Fight the good fight in the Spirit of St. John the Baptist: the spirit of uncompromising faithfulness to God and the spirit of undaunted courage to share uncomfortable truths.

From the stories above, I can't help but draw a parallel when St. John called out Herod, the powerful king, about Herod's adulterous affair.

A.F.

8/5/2018 04:10:45 pm

If Catholics followed that we are commanded to speak only good and necessary things like you say, we would not be allowed to say anything bad about a priest we know is sexually abusing a child. If a Catholic teacher who is a mandatory reporter stays quiet, he or she is also breaking the law. As Catholics, we cannot stay quiet about any form of abuse emotional, sexual, physical, financial, harassment, and bullying. What more has to happen for him to be carted away?

You quote the Bible so here is a verse I think applies to Father Daniel:
Zephaniah 3:4, “Her prophets are reckless, treacherous men; Her priests have profaned the sanctuary. They have done violence to the law.”

8/5/2018 08:40:24 pm

Good and necessary means as Catholics we have a duty to speak the truth in difficult circumstances, just like St. John the Baptist. He spoke good and necessary things to Herod (even while he was imprisoned by Herod) that challenged Herod in his adulterous sin.

St. John's mission was to exhort to everyone he encountered to repent and to help them see and follow the Lamb of God, which he did faithfully and fearlessly.

Sexual abuse, child abuse, adultery, abortion, etc. are all exigent circumstances that Catholics are absolutely commanded to speak out against (duty to good and necessary truths) and challenge those to repent and follow God's laws.

Poor Mrs. Pinkofsky

8/7/2018 10:22:00 am

I feel bad for Mrs Pinkofsky. I never knew she was going through all of this with Father Daniel. She always had this big smile on her face whenever we would pass by her office or see her in the hallway she would look at us and smile. We loved her so much. Me and my friends had trouble pronouncing her last name. One time my best friend called her Mrs Smith and was so embarrassed but she looked at him and smiled. I miss her already and the year haven’t even started yet.

8/8/2018 06:56:05 pm

I just saw the new article on this new blog about Barica that talks about how he attacked people in the Sunday bulletin:
https://roomwithapew.weebly.com/blog/like-a-welcome-flood

I was gone so I did not hear the homily from Sunday. This says he failed to acknowledge that he was the cause of the anger and fear in the parish and it was an act worthy of a reckless man. And that he is trying to convince us he is the victim like I thought he would. Can anyone tell us what he said?

Andy T

8/16/2018 09:08:19 pm

Our family has been on vacation since August 5 but I would like to know what Father Daniel said at his sermon that day. It's not on the website like the other sermons. Did he use the word coward?

8/16/2018 09:27:41 pm

Referring to those in the parish who criticize him, he wrote:
“It is the evil work of cowardly ‘snipers’ who shoot from behind the anonymity of the internet.”

You can access the August 5th bulletin by going to my most recent post, "Like a Welcome Flood" where I've made it available as a PDF.
https://roomwithapew.weebly.com/blog/like-a-welcome-flood

School parent PT

8/23/2018 10:23:27 am

I am glad he called more attention to how upset everyone is at the school by talking about bullies. If anyone is a bully it is him. I told my kids to walk away whenever they see him coming their way. They are going to tell their class mates when school starts.

Associate

9/7/2018 09:48:08 am

Paul,

Please remove Mr. Smith's personal cell phone number. He has personally asked me to help him remove it as until yesterday evening he was unaware it was posted here and unaware of this blog in its entirety, but I cannot immediately find contact information for you to request that directly. I understand from previous posts it means that you may need to remove the entire post, and that is regrettable, but it shouldn't have been posted to begin with.

Contacting Mr. Smith for assistance with this issue is not an avenue I would recommend. There are many people who can be contacted at their business location (Diocese of Orange) at the link I've posted below. Many of these people have direct dealings with the elementary schools themselves. Mr. Smith is responsible for athletics and does not oversee the parish of Sts. Simon and Jude.

https://occatholicschools.org/staff/

If anyone still wishes to contact Mr. Smith regarding elementary school sports, he can be reached at a phone number and email address located on that website.

It is imperative that I write to all reading this please note - this statement is not FROM him, it is FROM me and I have zero dealings with the diocese or the school any longer. However, he did in fact ask for assistance in removing his personal cell phone number from all comments on this website, so I am assisting in that manner alone.

Ceasar

9/10/2018 03:22:03 pm

I signed up for new comments with an email alert. I want to know why Russ was afraid to ask to have his number removed himself. Probably because he is under strict orders by the bishop himself to keep quiet or lose his diocese job. These are Catholic values what is going on with our church? The children are more important to protect than an employee blowing the whistle on another church scandal.

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