John Cummins, Oakland’s longest serving bishop, dies at 96

The clergyman oversaw the Diocese of Oakland for 26 years and served on several national committees

Bishop Emeritus John S. Cummins, center, speaks during a mass and memorial for former Bishop O’Dowd High School President Dr. Stephen W. Phelps at the Cathedral of Christ the Light in Oakland, Calif., on Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2018. Phelps, president of the school since 2005, died of complications after heart surgery at St. Mary’s Medical Center in San Francisco on Dec. 26. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

The Mercury News

December 4, 2024

By Jason Green

OAKLAND – John S. Cummins, the second and longest-serving bishop of Oakland, died Tuesday. He was 96.

The Diocese of Oakland confirmed Cummins’ death, writing in a statement that the retired bishop emeritus “leaves a legacy of service to God through his priesthood and episcopacy.”

“Our diocese has lost a father, grandfather, shepherd and true priest of Jesus Christ,” Bishop Michael C. Barber said. “May Christ the Good Shepherd welcome Bishop John into the eternal reward prepared for him who served the flock of Oakland so well.”

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Cummins’ tenure was not without controversy. In a 2022 letter, defrocked Oakland priest Tim Stier expressed dismay that Barber, the current bishop, had not held Cummins accountable for his role in allegedly enabling sexual abuse by credibly accused priests in the diocese, this news organization reported at the time.

The letter accused Cummins of failing to prevent abuse by Vincent Breen, Don Broderson, James Clark, George Francis, Robert Ponciroli, Gary Tollner and Stephen Kiesle. All eventually were taken out of ministry and Broderson, Kiesle and Ponciroli were removed from the priesthood.

At the time, the diocese did not comment on Stier’s claims and Cummins could not be reached. Facing more than 300 lawsuits claiming sexual abuse going back decades, the diocese filed for bankruptcy in 2023; officials last month proposed a $117 million fund to pay for such claims.

Funeral services will be publicized at www.oakdiocese.org, according to the diocese.

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