Maybe he is leaving because Fr. Greene has made his job difficult? Or, Fr. Greene is not supportive? Or, he and Fr. Greene do not get along? Is Fr. Greene tooooo controlling...hmmmmmmmmmm? The truth will never be known in order to protect Fr. P. Greene.

A few members of the parish know why he is leaving, ask them and then tell us!

Couldn't agree with you more. Great questions. Does anyone know the truth of this situation?

The many, many, many people in this parish who know what is going on need to start speaking out loud about it. Enough of the best priests and staff members "leaving quietly" for the good of the parish.

There is ONE person who needs to leave. When Fr. Greene does leave, that, at last will be something truly "for the good of the parish."

Web Link I think that it makes sense that many folks are leaving any parish run by Fr. Padraig Greene.

In my opinion, he is not a healthy man and should not be leading a spiritual community.

Protect Children!

I especially like this comment: "Has anyone counted up the number of staff (not to mention the number of parishioners?!) who have LEFT in the last 2 1/2 years? And the SPIN that's put on all the exits?? Is everyone completely clueless??"

I think most of the people the Catholic Community of Pleasanton ARE completely clueless! The number of staff who have been forced out in that amount of time is mind-boggling. Then volunteers are recruited/coerced into taking on the duties of the paid person. Of course, since donations are down (for other obvious reasons!), eliminating positions is a good way to make it look like the finances are still ok. And SPIN is just another word for LIE...which is an interesting road for church people to walk down, you think?? TRUTH hasn't been told there in a long time, which is why my family left and is worshipping elsewhere.

Thank you, Amanda. The lies that have been told about good people, former associates, former staff and volunteers, are, in some cases, probably actionable: that is, they have amounted to character defamation.

Father Greene is not well. Nor is CCOP, while he remains in charge.

Just what is going wrong at CCOP? Over the past two years, more than enough staff, lay ministers, and parishioners have voted with their feet and gotten out of CCOP. And now Joe Hebert. Things must be bad if Joe is leaving.

Doesn't the Bishop realize that this parish is in danger of becoming a ghost town under the present leadership. Do something Bishop Cordileone.

A Friend of the Truth, how right you are, those in the know, need to speak out. We want to hear the truth about what is going on in CCOP.

The public wants to know. We want transparency and honesty from the Church. No more cover ups!

What do you know Estella? Tell us all what you know and stop trying to pass the buck!

After nearly 21 years, it's called 'retirement'. And... 120 days notice! And... snatching a job in his 'home' parish. Who could ask for a better retirement job??

I'm not a fan of Padrig or whatever his name is now.. but, let's not see conspiracies behind every pew.

unclehomerr..

you could be right...when I retired it was wonderful...love it and I never looked back...so why not the same for Joe?

Not a matter of "seeing conspiracies." A matter of seeing the truth. Let's count the bodies since this man arrived, going all the way back to the spring of 2008. Just one example: Greene had SEVEN associate pastors here in 22 months. That sets a record even for this revolving-door parish.

The bloodletting among the staff has been even worse. Staff have found themselves faced with two alternatives: go along with the lies, the duplicity, the sick manipulation, or hit the road. Joe Hebert is simply the latest honest staff member to have exercised the latter option. God bless, Joe, and best of luck to you and lukcy Piedmont.

As for CCOP, I agree with Estella: why has chancery done nothing? They know ALL about the situation here. They have known, since 2008.

lots of innuendos, assuming that everybody in Ptown is in on the implied morbid details, NOT! Unless you spell it out clearly, with specific details, most of the complainers sound like unhappy cookies who need to moveon.com! tee hee hee, eeh eeh eet...

details, details, por favor...or shutup!!!

The bishop received many letters describing Greene's behaviour and his abuse of parishionors and staff. So far nothing has been done. I lost all respect for the Catholic leadership.
Yes I walked but did write letters and signed petitions to get rid of this controlling administrator named P. Greene.
CCOP was my home for many years and I can't believe what has happened in the 32 months. I am sad that Joe is leaving now too. Why don't they fire Greene? Are they blind?!

Google: Pleasanton weekly forum police report Padraig Greene

And he is still in charge and mentally and verbally abusing parishioners as well as staff.

I think Father Greene says a terrific mass. He always has. He usually gives me something to think about, and I seem to learn a lot more from him than other priests. Since he's taken over, I hear much less about how deep I should be reaching into my wallet. And I appreciate that... Also, the few other programs I participate in, have been great, worthwhile, and fullfilling under Father Greene's leadership. I don't know what's going on with the politics and all, but the final product is a good one...

Cholo and Former member of CCOP. Let's stay on point here. The topic is Joe Hebert leaving and the reasons why nothing is being done to remove Greene as the parochial administrator. While I agree that his actions that got him arrested almost 12 years ago are deplorable, his actions TODAY and in the past several months since he returned have been outrageous!

The fact of the matter is that we need to deal with the current situations, the here and now. Those being what on God's green Earth is going on that the employees are quiting left and right or being let go. This is the 3rd person in 2 months. That brings the body count to 18! There are barely 27 employees on the payroll, including the priests!

Why isn't the diocese conducting an investigation about this? Why are the powers that be allowing this to continue? What could Greene possibly be holding over their heads that is allowing them to leave him in this position?

He is an angry man that micro-manages every little thing and when it isn't to his liking he verbally assaults people. Oh, and he is very cunning too. He makes sure that he never does this in front of other people. No witnesses. If everyone that has suffered any verbal assault by him got together a very distinct pattern of behaviour will emerge.

His facade is cracking and it won't be long before he cracks completely. People need to see him for what he truly is, a man that shouldn't be a priest. CCOP would be better off without him and just two associate priests. The community will step up and support those two priests with their whole heart and without having to feel like that have to walk on eggshells or can't speak their minds.

We have good people that volunteer their time in ministry to this community and they will step in and do what is necessary to keep this community moving in a forward and loving direction without Greene in leadership.

Yes he says a terrific mass and his sermons sound so good. But is is only talk, actions are what count.

He may say a 'terrific' mass (I would heartily disagree!), but the fact is that it is probably invalid, in that he completely changes the words of the mass, which is completely forbidden. He opens up communion to everyone, regardless of their belief about the Eucharist (again against all norms) and he once jubilantly said in mass "We don't even LOOK like a Catholic church!!" Which is disgusting,,,there are those of us who WANT to be Catholic and we want to be REALLY Catholic. If he doesn't want to be Catholic, he can leave anytime.

"Terrific mass??? Good homilies???" Don't think so! The man talks WAYYYYYY too much!

WITHHOLD DONATIONS. NADA IN THE BASKET! Then, watch what happens!

If the churches were taxed on all of their income the national debt would be more than wiped out. Instead, we support pedophile priests and worse and allow the churches to accumulate untold wealth at our expense. Who is the idiot now?

"terrific mass"? I believe the objective is Holy Mass.

"Going away" receptions in the church hall have become the "norm" vs the exception. Clearly this is obvious to the "flock".

We have too many good priests that left abruptly too since Fr Green undertook the title of "parochial administrator". The truth that underlies their departure will never be made public.

I don't know all the facts but The Bishop does.

The question is what will he do with them?

Bishop Cummins, Bishop Vigneron and Bishop Cordileone were all informed about Greene. They did nothing. Just a big boy's club; they protect each other and don't care about others as long as they protect each other.
I wish Joe Herbert all the best. He has always been an inspiration to us all and will be missed.

Wow! Some angry folks out there! To clarify a couple my earlier points: To the comment of "he talks too much," I think that's a carry over St Augustine's tradition that believes the 11th Commandment to be "The mass shall be no shorter than 65 minutes. It is difficult to stretch a mass that on Tuseday morning can be said in 25 minutes, to well past an hour on weekends... And to the questioner of Father Green's homilies, at least he tries to give one! Using the homily to ask for money is not why I attend mass...

I remember when there were complaints about Father Dan's management of the parish. As i remember it, he had many vocal critics about his management style.

After a personal family tragedy I was a psychological mess. Father Greene phoned my home EVERY NIGHT to see how I was getting along and to provide support. He helped me pull through a very rough time in my life.

I've been at many parishes over my years. All priests have some trait that can be criticized. I don't find Father Greene any different in that regard. However, I like him and will not blame him for Joe's decision to leave.

I'm extremely sorry to see Joe leave, he's a treasure. But, let's not demonize Father Greene or make him a scapegoat for Joe's decision. Only Joe holds the real answer.

I agree with Concerned member: Father Greene is likely to be seen eventually by almost everyone for what he truly is: A man who never should have become a priest. He employs deception, manipulation and emotional and verbal abuse as if these were sound personnel policy. When he feels threatened by someone, usually someone who is popular, or competent, or a believing Catholic, and he cannot find any other way to get rid of this person, he starts a campaign of lies against them. He actually had people spying on one of the former associates. That's how sick he is. You can take my word for it: I was there. And oh yeah, he's an apostate into the bargain.

This is a sick man in need of more than just prayers. He needs compassionate leadership, from chancery, starting with the Bishop. Father Greene should be in therapy, not running one of the largest parishes on the West Coast.

That some people are defending Father Greene is not surprising, since he either makes sure there are no witnesses to his evil deeds, or he silences them, employing threats of various sorts. But you can't keep a charade like this going forever. Most of Fr. Greene's defenders will eventually see the ugly truth for what it is. The few who never will see it are simply proof that Lincoln was right: you can fool some people all the time.

Money talks! NO MONEY IN THE BASKET! tee hee hee, eeh eeh eet...

no money is what any religious org. understands...NO MONEY! get it....?

Yes, I have been there too and bought his lies for a while until I saw and experienced his abusive behavior. Former Staff member, you said it all. Did you complain to the bishop?

AMEN to the update from a former staff memeber. For so long I have felt so abandoned and alone due to my feelings for Mr. Greene and I have lost my community which I said no man would ever do to me! I can remember crying when I heard Fr. Dan tell us he was becoming pastor and everyone else clapped and my husband and I stood up and walked out of the church totally shocked. We have withdrawn all financial support but I don't really feel they care about that. He is an educated predator and knows how to go after the most vulnerable amongst us. I have seen the web he has spun around so many and lured them in and then the final ATTACK comes. I pray for all of those who have been victimized by him and hurt so deeply. I also thank the Lord for knowing that there are many more who feel the same way I do. I pray to be able to return to my community one day and hopefully we can start to rebuild together what we have lost. Yours in Christ

There you go Arroyo your getting spun into his web!!!

Since this is about Joe leaving, maye he is feeling some of what you all are discussing here. Maybe he is sick physically, emotionally, and spiritually with his job right now due to Greene. This is no retirement. Joe and other staff members cannot tell the truth because they are not retiring they need a job!

[email protected] David Clohessy is the National Director of SNAP. It may be worth a brief email contact to advise him of your concerns re: Fr. Greene. He might be able to make a few helpful suggestions.

Some of you may not want to bring undue attention to the problem of Fr. Greene but it may be helpful to ask for an opinion. He might be able to offer insight into this sensitive situation. It is clearly painful to many in the parish.

SNAP is aware of Fr. Greene and his police record.

I would also suggest that somebody who is dissatisfied with Fr. Greene and how he has impacted the Catholic community of Pleasanton, to contact a reporter in Contra Costa and speak with him/her on the condition of anonymity. Perhaps there is enough public interest in the concerns of some of your parish members.

Enough people have spoken from the heart and made it clear that Fr. Greene is not the most popular or desirable priest for your parish and perhaps for any parish.

It is also clear that the Bishop is not interested in making any immediate changes. Still, faced with TV cameras and newspaper pressure, he may pay attention to what is being felt and stated publicly to suggest a compromise.

In my opinion, I do not think that Fr. Greene is suitable for the priesthood. Anybody that is arrested in a public park toilet after exposing himself to police has serious problems. It seems to me that he has swung to the other extreme to contain his behavior. Unfortunately, his solution to his impulsive and illegal behavior has become the problem.

Web Link Please review the SNAP webpage.

SNAP re: Fr. Padgraig Greene and the "New" bishop of Oakland Diocese.

Web Link

First off let me say that I feel so sad that Joe is leaving CCOP and his decision to leave has opened up a can of worms.

So many, so so many other pastoral ministers, lay people and priests have left CCOP that it simply cannot be put down to coincidence any longer…

With the blowing of trumpets and the sound of cymbals, Fr. Greene was appointed parochial administrator to CCOP on Fr. Dan’s retirement. Fr. Padraig was at first, welcomed with open arms, until it was revealed that he had an outstanding conviction for lewd behavior; settled by being sent off to counseling ‘somewhere’. SNAP moved in on our parish and we experienced a campaign of hatred.

What happened in Fer. Greene's past is past, but what is happening now is surely to be considered.

I have to say that I am in wholehearted agreement with GIGI from a few comments above. I once worshipped at CCOP, when Fr. Padraig was an associate there, and even then he was viewed as a priest who took liberties with the mass. Sorry, but I expect more in the way of orthodoxy than he and his then, Pastor and fellow priests in the parish were prepared to give. Thankfully, he was moved on (to another unsuspecting parish I am sure) and in the aftermath, Pleasanton settled down.

But not for long!

One of the things that I found disturbing, when Fr. Greene was an associate at CCOP, was the liberal attitude he took with the Magisterium and his promotion of a gay agenda. Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against homosexuals per se…I have a lesbian daughter.

As long as the lesbian and gay community live by the rules of the Universal Church: the homosexual act is a sin and therefore homosexuals should live chaste and celibate lives, we (Catholics) are commanded. By God, to love the sinners but hate the sin. I love my daughter dearly, but I hate her way of life!

I also detested Fr Greene’s liberal attitude with the Holy Mass; not only changing the text, but encouraging “ALL” to come to the table. It was then that I left this parish: I wanted orthodoxy NOT the heterodoxy that was being fed to me at CCOP!

Things have not changed! I was back, this past year, for a funeral mass. Once again the parochial administrator welcomed ‘ALL’ to the table; those of ‘whatever’ creed or faith or sect they followed - it did not matter. They were ALL welcome. Apparently ALL are welcome to partake of the greatest Mystery of all, the Holy Eucharist, the transubstantiation, at the ‘table’ of CCOP; Catholic and non catholic alike.

This is totally outside of the teaching of the Catholic Church. See Catechism of the Catholic Church #1400: (paraphrased) “Ecclesial communities derived from the Reformation and separated from the Catholic Church, have NOT preserved the proper reality of the Eucharistic mystery in its fullness…… It is for this reason that ‘intercommunication’ with these communities is NOT possible…’

I am sure that there are those of you out there who will be able to quote, chapter and verse, as to why I am wrong. BUT I stick by what I have said Fr. Greene takes liberties with the mass andif only for that, he must be stopped.

Just been told that this forum is in progress!

In answer to the question posed by 'concern member of CCOP' several posts back: Why is the diocese not investigating?

A little birdie told me that 'yes they are' - investigating... There is an investigation going on right now, by the diocese, of Fr. Greene's 'mishandling' of the situation in Pleasanton.

Any other ex member of staff care to confirm that too?

Not to worry if you no one wants to confirm an ongoing investigation into the deficiencies at CCOP. It is understood that you are scared of what might happen!

Also very concerned former member: Yes, I went to the Bishop. Two years ago. At the time, summer of 2008, scores of letters were sent to the Bishop, as the reality of what we were facing, in Father Greene's disturbed character and abusiveness, sank in. Some of these letters were written by staff, some by volunteers, some were written by clergy.

Since that time, uncounted numbers of protests have been lodged with chancery, by e-mail, regular post, by phone and in-person. People have written directly to the Bishop (intercepted by his secty) and also to the Vicar for Priests, who is involved with the placement of clergy. Staff have been forced to deal with the Human Resources Dept., that is, Dr. Penny Pendola. Dr. Pendola, a friend of Fr. Dan's, has consistently turned a deaf ear to complaints from the staff. That's why I didn't bother with her. I went straight to the Bishop, but it did no good.

People need to know that the staff has NOT given up. There IS a fight going on. Father Greene will, finally, lose it, because unlike volunteers, or the former priests, the staff has the power to sue. I doubt chancery is willing to go to court, to defend Father Greene.

The priests who've left could sue, actually, if they wanted to. One of them said to me directly: "I have the grounds for a libel suit." Of course, they wouldn't. And the lay leadership has no rights whatever (welcome to the Catholic Church!).

But yes, the staff does have the power to sue. Again, I know of at least a couple of ex-staffers who left, threatening a lawsuit. But in the end, they didn't do it, for reasons similar to the reasons of the slandered priests: love for the parish chief among them.

However well-intentioned all these silent exits may be, they ultimately serve to empower a situation of abuse which simply can no longer be countenanced. I am heartened to see people stepping up to the plate here, with what they have experienced.

In the end, truth wins. For a man who lies as easily as Rev. Patrick J. Greene, that should be a very sobering thought.

Why does it take years to investigate? What else does the bishop need? He has facts and witnesses.
The more time it takes the more abuse is taken place.
Why did they not send him back to Ireland in the first place after he was arrested only 10 months after he started work at Christ the King? He did not have a green card then and was only working with religious visa, which could have been cancelled any time.

I have to admit that I haven't attended the CCOP for about 3 years now. I remember when Fr. Greene was a priest there before, and did enjoy his homilies; although they strayed from the usual format, they almost always had me moved and in tears. But our family circumstances changed, kids went off to college and were no longer participating in faith formation, and we stopped attending regularly. Curious now as to what the "abusive tactics" that Fr. Greene has been plying against the staff. Physical abuse or bullying? I know, as a "former member of CCOP", I can't really expect information, but reading this topic, I think others may be confused and wondering as well. Is the crux of the problem "physical abuse" or "mental abuse/bullying"?

I am asking the same question as former member -- why has nothing been done by the men downtown? The Bishops (all of them) have been aware of Greene's troubled personality and destructive influences for years. He left Mission San Jose on a wave of loathing -- I know because I have family there.

There were many protests from Fremont, about Greene, there was a purge of the staff, many letters to the Bishop -- it looked a whole lot like here. Msgr. Seimas at one point actually apologized to the staff for Greene's behavior, saying he had never in forty years in ministry encountered a priest like Greene. Bishop Vigneron had to have known Greene's track record at the Mission. Yet, he went ahead and appointed Greene to CCOP.

I do not know what good it would do, to talk to the press, except maybe to demonstrate that the Old Boy Network is alive and well in the Diocese of Oakland, and that SOME forms of abuse WILL be tolerated, by the Catholic hierarchy. Well, maybe that would be a story...

But please, Cholo, let's leave SNAP out of it. Their issue is not ours. Greene is a one-man wrecking ball, but he is not a child molester. Bring SNAP into it and you confuse the issues, which we need to remain very clear on. This is about abuse all right, but NOT child sex abuse. Get SNAP involved and you hand to Greene the opportunity to play the victim, which (as we have all seen) he could win an Oscar for.

What a shame. All of it. So many of us lined up to fight for Father Greene, three years ago when, as Angelette points out, he was viciously smeared by SNAP. We were outraged, and for good reason: Father Greene was being savagely attacked and it was wrong.

Now we come to discover that Father Greene is himself a practitioner of the vicious smear! I know this, because I am friends with a person, a former member of the team at CCOP, who was slandered by Father Greene. I believe that Father Greene was jealous. Simple as that. He is, as many of us have come to understand, a deeply needy and insecure person. More than that, really, he is an almost psychopathic liar. That is how he has so many people fooled -- and I am very sorry to say, I still think most of CCOP is fooled by him. Maybe you cannot fool all the people all the time, but he has fooled a lot of people the whole time he has been here.

Well, not me. Nor my wife. Nor our next-door neighbors. Even though we all live in San Ramon, we are CCOPers. But when we see the red car in front of the church, on Sunday morning, we turn around and come back to Joan of Arc for Mass.

On March 16, 2010, a petition with 130 signatures was hand-carried to the Chancery and hand-delivered to a priest that has direct access to the Bishop. The cover letter that accompanied the petition described the process by which the signatures were collected: "a small band of us decided to carry the petition, one by one, to those in the parish whom we knew well and who had expressed concern to us about Fr. Greene. We did this quickly, gathering as many signatures as we could in a short amount of time and in a way that would not stir up controversy and division in the parish."

Here is text of the petition:

The Most Reverend Salvatore J. Cordileone
Bishop of Oakland
2121 Harrison St., Suite 100
Oakland, CA 94612

Your Excellency,

We, the undersigned, appeal to you to choose a priest other than Padriag Greene as pastor of our parish in Pleasanton. Our voices are diverse, but united. Some of us, through our own experiences with Fr. Greene, have grave reservations about his personal character and his fitness as a credible role model for young people. Some of us have profound concerns about his fidelity to Catholic teaching. Others of us have strong objections to the way he treats other people — especially those over whom he has authority. Though our reasons may differ from person to person, we all join together in asserting that we strongly believe Fr. Greene is not fit to be a pastor, and we ask you not to install him as pastor of the Catholic Community of Pleasanton.

The Pleasanton parish has been our home. Some of us grew up in this parish. Some of us raised our families here, or are in the middle of raising them now. Some of us converted to the Catholic faith in this parish, and brought our children into the faith with us. Some of us have been leaders in the parish. Some of us have been employees. We have all served the Pleasanton parish in many ways, for many years – as catechists, as lectors, as altar servers, as pastoral council members, as cantors, as liturgists, as people who pray, as people who bring the Eucharist to the sick and homebound, as members and leaders of every kind of ministry within the parish. Some of us fill the pews every morning at daily mass. Some of us make sure that hundreds of poor families get gifts every year under their Christmas tree and food on their holiday table. We love our parish, and we are deeply troubled that Fr. Greene may soon be installed as our pastor. During Fr. Greene’s tenure as parochial administrator, our concerns have mounted, and we fear for the welfare of our parish should he be installed as pastor.

We ask you to reconsider the appointment of Fr. Greene as pastor of the Catholic Community of Pleasanton. Please do not install him. Please choose someone else for us.

*******************************************************************

It is time for Greene to go.

If some on this thread want to brand my comment "spin" (or "spun"), that's your prerogative. Everything I said in my post was true -- that's not spin.

Okay, all you good Christians who dislike Father Greene -- start building the gallows and get the rope...!!! As for me, I'll sit this one out.

The issue: abuse of power. Yup...pretty much the same with adults who engage in sex with kids.

PING!

Web Link

Tell me, how STABLE is Fr. Greene? It's time to up the pressure to get of Fr. Greene.

Arroyo, I have heard from others how "kind" and "loving" Greene can be. It is interesting to note that these comments ALWAYS come from those who encountered Greene in moments of true vulnerability, moments when they were open and susceptible.

Look at the ministries Greene has developed, over the past decade: grief support, divorced and separated, and so on. Ministries to those who are aching, in pain, in need. He feeds on the weakness of others, to make himself feel strong, integrated, whole, in control. he is, in fact, none of these things.

If, in fact, he assisted you in your grief, well, God be praised! But he was serving a deep need of his own, in doing so, and in the end, serving his own deep needs is what this man is all about.

This is the heart of the problem here: Greene can convince people that he is kindly Dr. Jekell -- as I say, the man could win an Oscar.

He is not kindly Dr. Jekell. He is Mr. Hyde. Ask ANY former associate priest or staff member, or any lay leader driven from his/her ministry. There are a LOT of them to choose from!

And with Joe Hebert, the number has just increased by one. Who's next?

"Their issue is not ours." Please explain. All responsible adults must do their part to protect all children and vulnerable adults from sexual predators. How are you different?

How have you come to believe Angelette that you are a responsible adult?

Cholo, when are you going to dry up and blow away? you have something to say on every single forum here on the Weekly sites and usually what you say in enflaming and inane. Can't you find something better to do w/ your time??

(Post removed by Pleasanton Weekly Online staff as innuendo, hearsay or specific accusatory information unsupported by facts.)

(Post removed by Pleasanton Weekly Online staff as innuendo, hearsay or specific accusatory information unsupported by facts.)

Cholo, please. Greene is NOT a child molester. He is many many other things, not one of them good, but he is not a pedophile. We need to stick with the facts here. Hysterical charges play right into the hands of Greene and his "power priest" protectors at chancery. It lets them say that we are just a bunch of cranks.

Joe Hebert is not a crank. Nor are any of the many other people at CCOP who have dared to oppose Greene.

We're on the same side, Cholo. United we stand. Divided, Greene wins. Drop SNAP. They have their purpose, but it is not germane to this discussion.

Deja vu! I remember reading a long thread here at PW when Father Greene arrived, in the fall of 2007, after SNAP "outed" his past indiscretion. Then, there was a lively exchange, in the summer of 2008, over why Father Jim was REALLY leaving. Now, a similar exchange over why our beloved Joe Hebert is really leaving.

Three angry threads in less than three years, all containing serious charges...Whaddaya think?

I say if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck...

Time the Bishop started reading the PW?!

(Post removed by Pleasanton Weekly Online staff as innuendo, hearsay or specific accusatory information unsupported by facts.)

(Post removed by Pleasanton Weekly Online staff as innuendo, hearsay or specific accusatory information unsupported by facts.)

(Post removed by Pleasanton Weekly Online staff as innuendo, hearsay or specific accusatory information unsupported by facts.)

This is pathetic. Look around you, fellow parishioners! Father Patrick Green is so embarrassed about his actions that he changed his name! Padrig....right. Old Patrick is a dirty old man as his past actions have proven. To add insult to injury, the "wise" men in power at the church put him in a unique position of power. He is mister sugar-and-sweet when it comes to addressing groups in public, but don't get him alone. No. He will turn into mister nasty if he disagrees with you.

How long will the bishop allow this to continue? Are we so lacking of priests that anyone will do? Is this what Pleasanton deserves? I think not. At least with corrupt politicians we can vote them out! At least shareholders can vote bad CEOs and board members out of mismanaged companies. At least bad doctors can have their licenses revoked. What can we do about priests like Green who commit mistake after mistake?

I know what they did the Ireland priests in power finally banished him to the US. Try to find any record of him as a priest in Ireland. You can't because, no doubt, the records have been sealed.

Honestly, Concerned, I was very willing to overlook Greene's past, when it all got splashed all over the newspapers, back in 2007. I thought, as did a great majority of CCOPers, that our faith demands forgiveness, and letting people make a fresh start. Also, I believed then, and believe now, that SNAP was smearing Greene with a lie.

My problem with Greene from the outset has been his mistreatment of others, something I was well aware of, from reports coming from Mission San Jose, where he served as Parochial Administrator for several years, before returning here. I have family and many friends in Fremont. To this day I have never heard one good thing about Greene, from anyone I know there. He may have fooled a great many CCOPers. He never fooled anyone in Fremont.

What I cannot understand is how the diocesan hierarchy, knowing the wreckage in Fremont, saw fit to appoint him here. Even giving the men downtown the benefit of the doubt on the initial appointment, how can they in anything approaching good conscience have left him here the past three years, given the outcry against his abuses, from priests, staff, lay leaders and just plain folks in the pews?

This conversation, so vital to the health not just of our community, but to that of the Diocese, needs to continue. It has been essentially shut down here at the PW, because folks will not take the chance on having Greene find out that they are telling the truth about him. There has been talk of a Yahoo Forum -- anyone interested?

Angelette,

Absolutely, I am interested in a Yahoo Forum. Know how to set one up?

In an earlier post, How Long, O Lord mentioned the petition to the Bishop back in March. The Bishop asked then for a groundswell. I suggest we give him that groundswell now.

The address to send letters is:

The Most Reverend Salvatore J. Cordileone
Office of the Bishop
2121 Harrison Street Suite 100
Oakland, CA 94612-3788

If you would like to make a phone call, the phone number for the Bishop's office is:

510-267-8384

I don't know how to set it up, but I imagine one of my kids does. Let me look into it and get back here about it.

Meanwhile, I have been thinking about what Concerned says above, about how ANY other institution is able to correct egregious mistakes like this appointment. Even in the Third World, they don't have to put up with this sort of thing: they have revolutions. The hierarchy's disrespect for the needs of the faithful needs to be addressed -- by us, the faithful.

I am sending out an e-mail blast on this topic to all of my CCOP contacts. I suggest everyone do the same. Urge people to flood chancery with protests, and now. Thank you, Another Friend, for the contact info.

Let's give the men downtown more than a groundswell. Let's give them an earthquake.

There is a group at Web Link

We can continue the discussion there without being edited for content.

Thank you, CallyGirl! I will see you there. So, I'll bet, will a few hundred other Pleasanton parishioners.

You are welcome Angelette! Spread the word!

63 comments on this thread. Mostly anonymous, mostly ripping Father Greene to pieces. Mostly all in the name of building or rebuilding the "Catholic Community of Pleasanton." Anonymous character assasinations on the internet of a priest in the name of the "Catholic Community of Pleasanton." The charges may all be true, the case may be valid, but in the name of The Catholic Community can you find a more dignified forum? Will the man ever be allowed to meet face-to-face with his accusors? Can you properly present your concerns to the Bishop? I'd like to see the Catholic Community take the higher road, because this anonymous mud-slinging from the gutter seems out of character with what we are all trying to be as Ctholics...

Jack,

To address your concern of anonymity I can safely say as a person who has come under attack for speaking words of truth that I will no longer give him (Greene) that opportunity to make me feel less of a person. It is in his nature to berate people over the smallest of things, this leads to them questioning their ability to do their jobs, minister to the community and overall self-worth.

It is a blessing from God that most people don't have to experience his hostility towards others. Something he tends to do in one on one situations. Makes sure there are no witnesses.

In the 10+ years that my family has been parishioners of the Catholic Community of Pleasanton, I can count on my hand maybe 5 people that left employment in this parish during that time. The number of people that were fired, quit or voluntarily moved to another parish for their sanity in the 15 months Greene was here was staggering, 11 employees! That isn't counting 4 priests and 1 deacon!

Wake up Pleasanton! Wake Up CCOP! to the destruction that is happening in our parish. Stand up and shout out in a loud voice to the Bishop that this needs to stop and it needs to stop NOW! Every day he is allowed to remain is one more day that he does more damage to this community.

At least 6 positions have been cut completely since he came. We had a full year without a Director of Religious Education, where did all that money go that was supposedly saved on not paying salaries? Every time you look at the financial reports in the bulletin it looks like we are doing just fine. But are we really or is it just an illusion? My family hasn't given a DIME to CCOP since he came and will continue to do so as long as he remains, many others are doing the same.

Also, Jack, you are lucky to have such a common name. Mine is not so common place and do I will forever on this forum be referred to as CallyGirl.

Jack, trust me. The high road has been taken. It has been taken several hundred times.

It has been taken by several of our former priests. This is not hearsay or innuendo: Several of our associate priests dared to fight back, when Greene attacked them. ASK THEM YOURSELF, if you will not believe me. Though they had the guts to opppose Greene and his abuses, all of them chose to leave quietly, out of concern for the parish. Meanwhile they let chancery know what was happening, and trusted that the Bishop would do the right thing.

The high road has been taken by that full one-third of the staff that has been fired or quit since spring, 2008, several of whom had grounds for, and seriously considered, a lawsuit. Talk to former staff members, if you will not take my word for it. The staffers also chose to leave quietly, out of love for the parish.

The high road has been taken by countless lay leaders who, believe me, never got the chance to face THEIR accuser or his accusations -- they opposed Greene once and that was it: they were out of their ministries. Greene's vindictiveness is the reason for so many anonymous posts: people love their jobs/ministries, and do not want to be forced out by this angry and vengeful man.

Letters, e-mails and phone calls have flooded into chancery about Greene's lies and abuses, for two and one-half years. Just this spring, a petition calling for Greene's removal was signed by 130 lay leaders, and walked into the Bishop's office. The organizers of the petition might have gathered three or four times that number of signatures. But they wanted to move quickly with it, so as to stay beneath Greene's punitive radar, and also, because they did not want it getting about in the parish that the petition was being circulated. They were concerned about the good of the parish, its peace and unity.

The latest departure from the staff, Joe Hebert, seems to be the straw that has broekn the camel's back. People who know the reality here have had it, and are not willing to keep quiet about it anymore.

There is immense frustration, some real anger, and some real sadness, among the hundreds of us who know the truth (because we have directly experienced it) at chancery's non-concern. People have finally decided that the only way to get chancery to act responsibly is to start shouting from the rooftops.

I hope this answers some of your objections. I will close by observing that, when it is the truth, it is not character assassination, no matter how ugly.

I left CCOP years ago. Just one example of Greene's (at that time to me very intimidating) assaults: If you ever complain about me I will destroy you.
This is fact not fiction.

Thanks, ams.smith50, Angelette and CallyGirl. The harsh reality we are describing here -- though clearly seen by many, many people at CCOP -- is bound to shock and dismay the many parishioners who simply have no clue. After all, as Jack points out, we are talking about a Catholic priest. Even today, after all the scandals, the overwhelming majority of Catholic people still believe in, and trust, their priests.

And so they should. When is the last time you saw charges like these laid at the feet of a priest? We have had seven fine priests at CCOP in the time of Father Greene's tenure. One point to consider, for those of you who are having difficulty believing the charges in these posts and those on the Yahoo site: Seven associates have been here during Father Greene's time; and FIVE of them have left, left in a period of just two years.

Ask yourself why.