According to a recent CBS video, Father Steven Kiesle, a priest in Oakland, California was sentenced to three years probation for tying up and molesting two young boys in the church rectory back in 1978. A local Bishop reported the incident to the Vatican at the time, trying to relieve the priest of his duties. Cardinal Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict) answered the letters four years later. He recognized the graveness of the situation but was also concerned how it would affect the Universal Church. Kiesle was transferred and spent the next two years at a local parish as the youth minister while a decision was being made. He was defrocked in 1987.
Attorney Irwin Zalkin who is experienced in handling these types of abuse cases, is now representing a woman who claims that Father Kiesle assaulted her three times by the time she was seven years old. Court documents state she was given wine, that her hands were bound and she was then sexually abused.
Mr. Zalkin stated that he felt it was time to get the information out, let the public know what happened, close the books on it, and move on. Many Catholics are requesting that the Pope come forward and reveal what he knew about and when. The Pope has stated that he is willing to have meetings with more abuse victims.
If you, or if you know of anyone who has been sexually abused by a Catholic priest, contact a clergy abuse lawyer at the Zalkin Law Firm at 800-724-3235.
