Alleged Church Abuse Victims Sue Oakland Diocese
OAKLAND, Calif. (KCBS) _ Seven people, who claim they were sexually molested by a priest, filed two lawsuits on Wednesday against the Catholic Diocese of Oakland.
Jeff Anderson , the attorney for the six women and one man said the plaintiffs named Stephen Kiesle as the man who abused them.
"They knew that he was a serial pedophile that couldn't control himself," said Anderson. "And thus, each of these kids and many more were harmed. These courageous survivors brought suit to bring transparency and accountability so that kids are protected."
Diocese spokesman Mike Brown said they did not know about allegations against Kiesle that were made in the 1960s.
However, he said they discovered his alleged problems when he was arrested in 1978.
"From that day forward, even before he got into court, Kiesle never operated as a priest in the Diocese of Oakland," said Brown.
Kiesle was defrocked in the wake of his 1978 arrest.
