Worries About Calif. Priest Came Early in Career

[Stuart G]

MSNBC, AP

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36362781/ns/us_news/


By BROOKE DONALD, GILLIAN FLACCUS
Associated Press Writer, Associated Press Writer

updated 1 hour, 4 minutes ago
OAKLAND, Calif. - Even in his seminary days in the early 1970s, there were questions about California priest Stephen Kiesle: Colleagues said he had trouble relating to adults, lacked spirituality and didn't seem committed to anything but youth ministry.

Those colleagues, who helped make the case to the Vatican in 1981 seeking to let him leave the priesthood, said they were concerned before Kiesle was ordained, and more so after revelations Kiesle had molested children in his parish.

Still, future Pope Benedict XVI resisted pleas from the diocese to act on the case, according to a 1985 letter in Latin obtained by The Associated Press that bore his signature as then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger.

It would take another two years before the Vatican doctrine watchdog office headed by Ratzinger would approve Kiesle's own request to leave the priesthood in 1987.

[rpannier]

1. The guy is a real piece of work

Kiesle has been accused of having tied up an altar boy and molesting him

He married and in the late 90's was arrested for molesting girls

He lives in a gated community in Walnut Creek. Which stuns me
Walnut Creek (where I grew up) is an incredibly affluent area.
He made big bucks somewhere along the line to be able to live in a gated community -- my guess Rossmoor (Adults Only)