Publish to Newswire
Add an EventFrom the Open-Publishing Calendar
From the Open-Publishing Newswire
Indybay Feature
A Crisis At St. Patrick's Abbey
The Men At St. Patrick's Abbey Are In A Crisis And If Any One Can Spare Some Food, Feel Free To Drop It Off At The Abbey, Day Or Night.
A Crisis At St. Parick's Abbey
By Lynda Carson April 2, 2004
Oakland CA-Father Donald Weeks of St. Patrick's Abbey was arraigned at 2pm today at Alameda County Superior Court in Oakland on 24 counts of child molestation between the years of 1994 through 1996. Weeks is scheduled for another court appearance for 11am on April 7.
Weeks was transferred from Kaiser Hospital to Alameda County Santa Rita Jail after having 2 heart attacks since his arrest last Tuesday March 30, by the Oakland Police Department (OPD).
There was no mention of any charges being pressed against Weeks for possession of crack cocaine or a crack pipe, despite the original allegations made by the OPD.
In a call to Assistant Chaplain Donny Ratcliff at the Abbey on April 2, Ratcliff claims that Councilman De La Fuente is full of himself and that the men at the Abbey have been left high and dry since being raided by the OPD.
"Councilman De La Fuente told the media that the Volunteers of America were going to help the men find new housing and other programs to assist with their needs, but it never happened and we are in a big mess at the Abbey as a result of the attacks upon us by De La Fuente and the City. We at least have some checks ready and made out to PG&E and EBMUD to keep the utilities and water on," said Ratcliff.
"Volunteers of America only helps out second time parolee offenders," said Ratcliff, "but none of the men at the Abbey are second offenders and that leaves us out in the cold."
"Presently the most pressing issue is that all of the checks coming in for the men are made out to St. Patricks Abbey, and it takes the signature of Father Weeks to cash them. With Father Weeks being detained and no help coming in from the City or the Volunteers of America, we have a real problem and people are going hungry around here. There is a real crisis going on here," said Ratcliff.
The men at the Abbey have been in a crisis since the OPD raided and ransacked St. Patrick's, and arrested Father Donald Weeks. Matters became worse when the priest had 2 immediate heart attacks the following day, and a few of the men panicked and have left the Abbey since Weeks arrest last Tuesday.
Most of the men are still at the Abbey, 26 as of last count last Tuesday, and they are waiting for another attack from the City of Oakland to come their way, but hope for the best and are trying to maintain as best as they can.
The situation first began weeks ago when Councilman De La Fuente ordered Father Donald Weeks to evict Cary Verse from the premises after he was invited to stay there until he could find some permanent housing. When Weeks refused to evict, the City of Oakland came down hard on the Priest and the Abbey with unrelenting attacks meant to shut them down, even though Verse has been long gone to a new residence in San Jose.
St. Patrick's Abbey is located at 3700 E. 12th Street in East Oakland, corner of 37th Ave and E. 12th Street, near the Fruitvale Bart Station. If anyone can spare a package of food or offer some donations to help out the men at the Abbey, please free to stop by and drop it off with Assistant Chaplain Donny Ratcliff.
By Lynda Carson April 2, 2004
Oakland CA-Father Donald Weeks of St. Patrick's Abbey was arraigned at 2pm today at Alameda County Superior Court in Oakland on 24 counts of child molestation between the years of 1994 through 1996. Weeks is scheduled for another court appearance for 11am on April 7.
Weeks was transferred from Kaiser Hospital to Alameda County Santa Rita Jail after having 2 heart attacks since his arrest last Tuesday March 30, by the Oakland Police Department (OPD).
There was no mention of any charges being pressed against Weeks for possession of crack cocaine or a crack pipe, despite the original allegations made by the OPD.
In a call to Assistant Chaplain Donny Ratcliff at the Abbey on April 2, Ratcliff claims that Councilman De La Fuente is full of himself and that the men at the Abbey have been left high and dry since being raided by the OPD.
"Councilman De La Fuente told the media that the Volunteers of America were going to help the men find new housing and other programs to assist with their needs, but it never happened and we are in a big mess at the Abbey as a result of the attacks upon us by De La Fuente and the City. We at least have some checks ready and made out to PG&E and EBMUD to keep the utilities and water on," said Ratcliff.
"Volunteers of America only helps out second time parolee offenders," said Ratcliff, "but none of the men at the Abbey are second offenders and that leaves us out in the cold."
"Presently the most pressing issue is that all of the checks coming in for the men are made out to St. Patricks Abbey, and it takes the signature of Father Weeks to cash them. With Father Weeks being detained and no help coming in from the City or the Volunteers of America, we have a real problem and people are going hungry around here. There is a real crisis going on here," said Ratcliff.
The men at the Abbey have been in a crisis since the OPD raided and ransacked St. Patrick's, and arrested Father Donald Weeks. Matters became worse when the priest had 2 immediate heart attacks the following day, and a few of the men panicked and have left the Abbey since Weeks arrest last Tuesday.
Most of the men are still at the Abbey, 26 as of last count last Tuesday, and they are waiting for another attack from the City of Oakland to come their way, but hope for the best and are trying to maintain as best as they can.
The situation first began weeks ago when Councilman De La Fuente ordered Father Donald Weeks to evict Cary Verse from the premises after he was invited to stay there until he could find some permanent housing. When Weeks refused to evict, the City of Oakland came down hard on the Priest and the Abbey with unrelenting attacks meant to shut them down, even though Verse has been long gone to a new residence in San Jose.
St. Patrick's Abbey is located at 3700 E. 12th Street in East Oakland, corner of 37th Ave and E. 12th Street, near the Fruitvale Bart Station. If anyone can spare a package of food or offer some donations to help out the men at the Abbey, please free to stop by and drop it off with Assistant Chaplain Donny Ratcliff.
Add Your Comments
Comments
(Hide Comments)
OAKLAND
Priest has heart attacks after arrest
Lawyer calls molesting charges a 'witch hunt to punish' cleric
Jim Herron Zamora, Kelly St. John, Chronicle Staff Writers Thursday, April 1, 2004
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2004/04/01/BAGRF5UL4M1.DTL
The Rev. Donald Weeks suffered two heart attacks in the day after his arrest on sexual molestation charges that his attorney called the result of a "witch-hunt to punish" the priest for sheltering high profile sex offender Cary Verse in Oakland last month.
Weeks, 60, remained under guard Wednesday at Kaiser Hospital in Oakland, where he was taken after complaining of chest pains and dizziness following his arrest Tuesday at St. Patrick's Abbey in the Fruitvale neighborhood of East Oakland.
Weeks suffered one heart attack Tuesday and another Wednesday morning, said Donny Ratcliff, the abbey's acting administrator. Weeks is expected to remain hospitalized for another day or two, police said.
"These false accusation against him have taken a toll on his health and put him in danger,'' said Weeks' attorney, John Burris. "This case seems to be a witch hunt to punish the priest. It seems to be a clear effort to run the abbey out of town.''
City Council President Ignacio De La Fuente -- a vocal critic of the priest -- defended the police investigation and said it was not politically motivated.
"This guy put himself in this situation where he was seen on TV, and then people came forward and began telling things to the police," De La Fuente said. "It is the job of the police to follow up on these matters."
Oakland police said Weeks had been arrested on suspicion of "multiple counts of oral copulation on a minor." Oakland police Lt. Mike Yoell refused to say how many offenses Weeks was accused of committing, nor would he reveal details of the alleged crimes. Weeks has not yet been booked into jail because he remains hospitalized.
Weeks has for five years run a halfway house for drug and alcohol addicts at St. Patrick's Abbey, 3700 E. 12th Street. From 1994 to 1999, he ran the Holy Angels ministry at 9424 International Blvd. in Oakland.
Weeks and the abbey are affiliated with the Old Catholic Church, which split from the Roman Catholic Church in 1889, and the American Congregation of St. Benedict.
Investigators accuse Weeks of molesting a teenager who came to him for help in the 1990s, police said. The alleged victim is now in his mid-20s. Alameda County prosecutors said they expected to file charges by Friday, but they declined to comment further.
Burris said police had learned of the accusations through an informant who is a disgruntled former associate who had falling out with Weeks nearly two years ago. He also said the alleged victim had never thought to raise the accusations himself and in fact remained on good terms with Weeks over the years.
"The alleged victim may not, in reality, be a victim,'' Burris said. "The victim has apparently made statements that are contrary" to what police claim he has alleged.
Yoell confirmed that police had learned of the alleged victim through an informant. But he said the victim was "very cooperative" and had given police a lot of information about alleged illegal sex acts.
Ratcliff said the alleged victim, and his family, supported Weeks. He said the victim's parents had asked Weeks to help the youth "because he was a wild child." The alleged victim later worked as a secretary for Weeks after turning 18, Ratcliff said.
The alleged victim visited the abbey last week to tell Weeks he had been contacted by police, Ratcliff said.
"He told father to be careful and said they would come here and try to do something," Ratcliff said.
E-mail the writers at jzamora [at] sfchronicle.com and kstjohn [at] sfchronicle.com.
Page B - 5
Priest has heart attacks after arrest
Lawyer calls molesting charges a 'witch hunt to punish' cleric
Jim Herron Zamora, Kelly St. John, Chronicle Staff Writers Thursday, April 1, 2004
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2004/04/01/BAGRF5UL4M1.DTL
The Rev. Donald Weeks suffered two heart attacks in the day after his arrest on sexual molestation charges that his attorney called the result of a "witch-hunt to punish" the priest for sheltering high profile sex offender Cary Verse in Oakland last month.
Weeks, 60, remained under guard Wednesday at Kaiser Hospital in Oakland, where he was taken after complaining of chest pains and dizziness following his arrest Tuesday at St. Patrick's Abbey in the Fruitvale neighborhood of East Oakland.
Weeks suffered one heart attack Tuesday and another Wednesday morning, said Donny Ratcliff, the abbey's acting administrator. Weeks is expected to remain hospitalized for another day or two, police said.
"These false accusation against him have taken a toll on his health and put him in danger,'' said Weeks' attorney, John Burris. "This case seems to be a witch hunt to punish the priest. It seems to be a clear effort to run the abbey out of town.''
City Council President Ignacio De La Fuente -- a vocal critic of the priest -- defended the police investigation and said it was not politically motivated.
"This guy put himself in this situation where he was seen on TV, and then people came forward and began telling things to the police," De La Fuente said. "It is the job of the police to follow up on these matters."
Oakland police said Weeks had been arrested on suspicion of "multiple counts of oral copulation on a minor." Oakland police Lt. Mike Yoell refused to say how many offenses Weeks was accused of committing, nor would he reveal details of the alleged crimes. Weeks has not yet been booked into jail because he remains hospitalized.
Weeks has for five years run a halfway house for drug and alcohol addicts at St. Patrick's Abbey, 3700 E. 12th Street. From 1994 to 1999, he ran the Holy Angels ministry at 9424 International Blvd. in Oakland.
Weeks and the abbey are affiliated with the Old Catholic Church, which split from the Roman Catholic Church in 1889, and the American Congregation of St. Benedict.
Investigators accuse Weeks of molesting a teenager who came to him for help in the 1990s, police said. The alleged victim is now in his mid-20s. Alameda County prosecutors said they expected to file charges by Friday, but they declined to comment further.
Burris said police had learned of the accusations through an informant who is a disgruntled former associate who had falling out with Weeks nearly two years ago. He also said the alleged victim had never thought to raise the accusations himself and in fact remained on good terms with Weeks over the years.
"The alleged victim may not, in reality, be a victim,'' Burris said. "The victim has apparently made statements that are contrary" to what police claim he has alleged.
Yoell confirmed that police had learned of the alleged victim through an informant. But he said the victim was "very cooperative" and had given police a lot of information about alleged illegal sex acts.
Ratcliff said the alleged victim, and his family, supported Weeks. He said the victim's parents had asked Weeks to help the youth "because he was a wild child." The alleged victim later worked as a secretary for Weeks after turning 18, Ratcliff said.
The alleged victim visited the abbey last week to tell Weeks he had been contacted by police, Ratcliff said.
"He told father to be careful and said they would come here and try to do something," Ratcliff said.
E-mail the writers at jzamora [at] sfchronicle.com and kstjohn [at] sfchronicle.com.
Page B - 5
April 3, 2004 Tribune Story
http://www.oaklandtribune.com/Stories/0,1413,82~1865~2060685,00.html
Article Last Updated: Saturday, April 03, 2004 - 3:48:04 AM PST
Priest arraigned on molest charges
Bail for Donald Weeks set at $240,000; he will enter plea April 7
By Glenn Chapman, STAFF WRITER
OAKLAND -- A priest who last month gave refuge to a paroled sexual predator was led shackled before an Alameda County Superior Court judge on Friday to face charges he repeatedly engaged in oral sex with a teenage boy.
Father Donald Weeks was dressed in a red jail jumpsuit and his wrists were linked to a chain around his waist as bailiffs ushered him from a holding cell to the courtroom of Judge Winifred Smith.
The red garb indicated Weeks is being kept separate from the general population behind bars.
Weeks, 60, was given a copy of the complaint sheet listing 24 felony sex-crime counts filed against him earlier that day. Weeks is accused of either giving or getting oral sex from a teenager about once a month from April 1994 to March 1996.
Deputy District Attorney Tim Wellman, the prosecutor handling the case, faced defense attorneys Arthur Mitchell and Ben Nisenbaum during the brief hearing. Weeks stood grim-faced between his lawyers and sher- iff's deputies as Smith set his bail at $240,000 and arranged for him to return to court on April 7 to enter his plea.
Mitchell told Smith that Weeks has medical concerns he wants addressed, but did not elaborate in public. Weeks has diabetes and was hospitalized after his arrest by Oakland police Tuesday, but is now in custody at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin.
Weeks was being led back to a cell when he gave a slight wave to a friend from St. Patrick's Abbey who sat in the gallery with one other supporter of the priest.
Wellman declined to discuss the case outside court, other than to confirm what was in the written criminal complaint. A defense motion to have the priest's bail reduced or have him freed without bail pending trial would be made at the next hearing, Mitchell said, contending Weeks was neither a flight risk nor a danger to the community.
Mitchell refused to elaborate on the priest's condition or situation.
Police have said Weeks' 26-year-old accuser claims he was 14 when he met Weeks at a fountain off Grand Avenue near Lake Merritt. Weeks cultivated a friendship with the boy and his family. When the youth turned 16, Weeks began orally copulating him at least once a week until the victim turned 18 and broke off the relationship, according to investigators.
The man revealed his story to police after Weeks provided paroled sex offender Cary Verse sanctuary at his abbey at 3700 E. 12th St. last month. Weeks has described himself as an ordained priest of the Old Catholic Church, which is not affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church.
RETURN TO TOP
http://www.oaklandtribune.com/Stories/0,1413,82~1865~2060685,00.html
Article Last Updated: Saturday, April 03, 2004 - 3:48:04 AM PST
Priest arraigned on molest charges
Bail for Donald Weeks set at $240,000; he will enter plea April 7
By Glenn Chapman, STAFF WRITER
OAKLAND -- A priest who last month gave refuge to a paroled sexual predator was led shackled before an Alameda County Superior Court judge on Friday to face charges he repeatedly engaged in oral sex with a teenage boy.
Father Donald Weeks was dressed in a red jail jumpsuit and his wrists were linked to a chain around his waist as bailiffs ushered him from a holding cell to the courtroom of Judge Winifred Smith.
The red garb indicated Weeks is being kept separate from the general population behind bars.
Weeks, 60, was given a copy of the complaint sheet listing 24 felony sex-crime counts filed against him earlier that day. Weeks is accused of either giving or getting oral sex from a teenager about once a month from April 1994 to March 1996.
Deputy District Attorney Tim Wellman, the prosecutor handling the case, faced defense attorneys Arthur Mitchell and Ben Nisenbaum during the brief hearing. Weeks stood grim-faced between his lawyers and sher- iff's deputies as Smith set his bail at $240,000 and arranged for him to return to court on April 7 to enter his plea.
Mitchell told Smith that Weeks has medical concerns he wants addressed, but did not elaborate in public. Weeks has diabetes and was hospitalized after his arrest by Oakland police Tuesday, but is now in custody at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin.
Weeks was being led back to a cell when he gave a slight wave to a friend from St. Patrick's Abbey who sat in the gallery with one other supporter of the priest.
Wellman declined to discuss the case outside court, other than to confirm what was in the written criminal complaint. A defense motion to have the priest's bail reduced or have him freed without bail pending trial would be made at the next hearing, Mitchell said, contending Weeks was neither a flight risk nor a danger to the community.
Mitchell refused to elaborate on the priest's condition or situation.
Police have said Weeks' 26-year-old accuser claims he was 14 when he met Weeks at a fountain off Grand Avenue near Lake Merritt. Weeks cultivated a friendship with the boy and his family. When the youth turned 16, Weeks began orally copulating him at least once a week until the victim turned 18 and broke off the relationship, according to investigators.
The man revealed his story to police after Weeks provided paroled sex offender Cary Verse sanctuary at his abbey at 3700 E. 12th St. last month. Weeks has described himself as an ordained priest of the Old Catholic Church, which is not affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church.
RETURN TO TOP
Feed The Hingry!
We are 100% volunteer and depend on your participation to sustain our efforts!
Donate
$230.00 donated
in the past month
Get Involved
If you'd like to help with maintaining or developing the website, contact us.
Publish
Publish your stories and upcoming events on Indybay.
Topics
More
Search Indybay's Archives
Advanced Search
►
▼
IMC Network