Michael C. Barber

Michael Charles Barber, SJ (born July 13, 1954) is an American Catholic prelate who has served as Bishop of Oakland since 2013. He is a member of the Jesuits.

Biography

Early life and education Michael Barber was born on July 13, 1954, in Salt Lake City, Utah. He attended Saint Pius X Preparatory School in Galt, California.

After finishing high school, Barber decided to become a priest; he entered the Society of Jesus (Jesuit) novitiate in 1973. He then attended Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. To continue his education, Barber travelled to Spokane, Washington, to attend Gonzaga University. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy and history from Gonzaga in 1978.

Barber in 1982 entered Regis College at the University of Toronto in Toronto, Ontario, where he received Master of Divinity and Bachelor of Sacred Theology degrees in 1985.

Ordination and ministry Barber was ordained a priest at the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption in San Francisco by Archbishop John Quinn for the Jesuits on June 8, 1985. After his ordination, the Jesuits sent Barber to Apia in Western Samoa to serve as a missionary for two years.

After leaving Samoa, Barber went to Rome to study at the Pontifical Gregorian University. He received a Licentiate in Systematic Theology from the Gregorian in 1989. From 1990 to 1991, he served as an assistant professor at the university.

In March, 2014, Barber transferred two pastors, one of whom was openly gay, from Newman Hall Holy Spirit Parish in Berkeley, California. Barber refused to provide any explanation to the pastors or to unhappy parishioners for the transfers.

In 2019, Barber opposed the proposed California State Senate Bill 360, which would have required priests to break the seal of confession and report sexual abuse of minors. He was quoted "I will go to jail before I will obey this attack on our religious freedom." As of 2021, the motu proprio Traditionis custodes restricts the celebration of the Tridentine Mass. On July 18, 2021, Barber approved the continued use of the Traditional Rite according to the 1962 missal in the Diocese of Oakland.

Honors Barbert received the Meritorious Service Medal from the Navy and was invested as a Knight of the Holy Sepulchre and a magistral chaplain of the Order of Malta.