The Zalkin Law Firm has been in the news recently for their clients' involvement in one of the biggest Catholic Church abuse scandals to surface in recent years. At the center of the scandal is a California Catholic priest, Rev. Stephen Kiesle, and none other than Pope Benedict XVI, formally known as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger.
The Case
After Keisle was accused of tying up two boys and molesting them in the 1970s, the abuse was reported it to the Vatican office responsible for disciplining abusive priests, headed by Cardinal Ratzinger. Ratzinger is now being accused of hesitating to remove the pedophile priest from priesthood. The Associated Press recently obtained documents indicating Ratzinger resisted removing Kiesle from priesthood for the "good of the universal Church." One of the documents, a letter signed by Ratzinger, included communication between the Diocese in Oakland where Keisle worked and the Vatican, discussing the proposed defrocking of Kiesle. But the letter suggests that Ratzinger hesitated to immediatey remove Kiesle from priesthoold because he thought reports of sexual abuse would make the church look bad.
It took four years for the Vatican to respond to the Oakland Diocese after the abuse was first reported, and two more years for Kiesle to be removed. Kiesle was eventually criminally charged and ordered to serve three years probation for sexually abusing the two boys. When his probation ended in 1981, he submitted resignation papers to the Diocese and left the priesthood.
Experienced Clergy Abuse Attorneys
Attorney Irwin Zalkin is now representing several of Kiesle's victims. If you or a loved one is a victim of Catholic priest abuse or clergy abuse, the Zalkin Law Firm can help. We have extensive experience representing victims of sexual abuse committed by members of the clergy, and can ensure legal action is taken to hold these people accountable for their crimes. We know you have already been through a lot. Let us seek justice on your behalf by helping you taken legal action to recover compensation for your pain, suffering, and emotional distress.
Contact the Zalkin Law Firm today at (800) 724-3235 to speak with an experienced and dedicated clergy abuse lawyer at our office today!
