Priestly faculties for Father Jeffrey Finley, CPPS, removed by Diocese of Oakland

Date: Dec. 19, 2020

Priestly faculties for Father Jeffrey Finley, CPPS, removed by Diocese of Oakland

OAKLAND -- Bishop Michael Barber, SJ, has permanently revoked the priestly faculties of Father Jeffrey J. Finley, a member of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood (C.PP.S.), in the Diocese of Oakland, due to allegations of boundary violations with an adult man. The alleged behavior occurred in 2000 and was reported to the Diocese in September 2020.

This means, although Father Finley remains a Catholic priest, he can not function as a priest in the Diocese of Oakland by celebrating the sacraments. He has not had an official appointment in the Diocese since 2011, but has assisted on an as-needed basis at Our Lady of the Rosary in Union City.

Father Finley’s assignments in the Diocese of Oakland include St. Edward Parish in Newark from 1990-2004 and as chaplain at Washington Hospital in Fremont from 2004-2011. After a three-year term as provincial director for the Atlantic Province of his order, he has been working as a civilian in the Palliative Care Unit of Washington Hospital since 2015.

The diocese has conducted an internal investigation. The diocesan Review Board has also reviewed the case and affirms Bishop Barber’s decision. The removal of priestly faculties is limited to Father Finley’s functioning as a priest within the Diocese of Oakland. All other decisions regarding his future are the responsibility of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood.

Last weekend at Our Lady of the Rosary a statement was read that misled parishioners regarding the reason for Father Finley’s absence from the altar. The Diocese did not communicate Father Finley’s status to Our Lady of the Rosary and Father Finley’s letter was read without confirming the facts. Bishop Barber has apologized to the pastor, Father Jesús Nieto-Ruiz, for this error and asks forgiveness from those affected by this lapse in communications.

The Diocese of Oakland considers all allegations of clergy misconduct serious. Anyone with information on sexual abuse of children or vulnerable adults is encouraged to contact their local county hotline to report abuse. A list of the county numbers is online at http://www.cdss.ca.gov/Reporting/Report-Abuse/Child-Protective-Services/Report-Child-Abuse. Anyone with information on this case or with other reports of abuse occurring in the diocese’s parishes or schools may contact the diocesan chancellor, Stephen A. Wilcox, at [email protected] or 510.267.8334.