The Catholic Cathedral Corporation of the East Bay was an outgrowth of a February 2000 meeting of representatives from parishes of the Diocese of Oakland.
 The summit reached consensus to proceed with the planning of a new cathedral.
 The newly incorporated Catholic Cathedral Corporation of the East Bay, a non-profit organization independent of the chancery of the Diocese of Oakland, began soliciting donations for its Cathedral Campaign.

Despite considerable support, the Cathedral Campaign gained critics concerned with its price tag for construction increasing from $131 million in 2003, when the design was chosen, to an estimated $190 million in 2007, to $175 million, reduced by cost-cutting measures in the final year.
Some questioned whether the money should not have been spent more appropriately elsewhere.
Proponents countered that the Diocese of Oakland spends $350 million on social services and education annually while the $175 million cost of the cathedral would be spread over three years of construction and four years of design.
 They also noted that the cathedral was financed by donations solicited specifically for the project.
Suggestions were made to use the donations for other projects instead, like those administered by the diocese to help the poor or to build new schools.

In 2005, concerns over the price were magnified when the Diocese of Oakland, due to its reduced finances, was required to take out a loan to cover half its $56.4 million settlement with 56 sex abuse victims.
 The diocese announced in January 2007 that the fundraising campaign for a new Catholic high school in Livermore would be halted temporarily to allow officials to focus on raising money for the cathedral's completion.

While some have praised the cathedral's innovative, modern design and stripped-away iconography, traditionalists have questioned its fidelity to Catholic doctrine and tradition.
Rev. Leo Edgerly Jr., who serves on the cathedral advisory board, replied to the critics: "You can go to Europe and see Gothic cathedrals," he said. "
You can come to Oakland and see this."
The Catholic Cathedral Corporation of the East Bay was an outgrowth of a February 2000 meeting of representatives from parishes of the Diocese of Oakland.  The summit reached consensus to proceed with the planning of a new cathedral.  The newly incorporated Catholic Cathedral Corporation of the East Bay, a non-profit organization independent of the chancery of the Diocese of Oakland, began soliciting donations for its Cathedral Campaign.
Despite considerable support, the Cathedral Campaign gained critics concerned with its price tag for construction increasing from $131 million in 2003, when the design was chosen, to an estimated $190 million in 2007, to $175 million, reduced by cost-cutting measures in the final year. Some questioned whether the money should not have been spent more appropriately elsewhere. Proponents countered that the Diocese of Oakland spends $350 million on social services and education annually while the $175 million cost of the cathedral would be spread over three years of construction and four years of design.  They also noted that the cathedral was financed by donations solicited specifically for the project. Suggestions were made to use the donations for other projects instead, like those administered by the diocese to help the poor or to build new schools.
In 2005, concerns over the price were magnified when the Diocese of Oakland, due to its reduced finances, was required to take out a loan to cover half its $56.4 million settlement with 56 sex abuse victims.  The diocese announced in January 2007 that the fundraising campaign for a new Catholic high school in Livermore would be halted temporarily to allow officials to focus on raising money for the cathedral's completion.
While some have praised the cathedral's innovative, modern design and stripped-away iconography, traditionalists have questioned its fidelity to Catholic doctrine and tradition. Rev. Leo Edgerly Jr., who serves on the cathedral advisory board, replied to the critics: "You can go to Europe and see Gothic cathedrals," he said. "You can come to Oakland and see this."
Cathedral of Christ the Light (Oakland, California)