More than 50 years after the alleged abuse by former Oakland priest Stephen Kiesle, a civil jury has awarded one of his accusers $16 million.
Rick Simons, an attorney for survivors, said the verdict reflects the lasting impact of childhood sexual abuse, particularly when it involves clergy.
"We were very pleased that the jury recognized how severe and long-lasting childhood sexual assault is, particularly when it involves the betrayal of trust by a priest to an altar boy. How severe, long lasting and permanent that is, and the depth of harm that was done to that child that he cared," Simons said.
The verdict against the Roman Catholic Diocese of Oakland is giving hope to other survivors of clergy sexual abuse, according to Simons.
He said legal options remain for some victims. "Suits can be still filed by people who are under 40 or by people who, within the last five years, reasonably discovered for the first time the connection between present psychological or emotional harm and childhood molestation," Simons said.
Not all advocates are satisfied with the outcome. Joey Piscitelli, Northern California director for SNAP, the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests, said the settlement fell far short of what the jury determined.
"Numbers should be something realistic, not what the church has done. The church has stalled for six years, and after six years, they offer a lowball figure, which is roughly 3 to 4% of what the jury thought. So that's really low. It's too far apart."
Advocates say the decision could open the door for additional cases that have been on hold since the diocese filed for bankruptcy three years ago.
Former priest Tim Stier said the church knew about accusations against Kiesle. "My first assignment in 1979 was in that parish in Union City. That's in the news - Our Lady of the Rosary. I was assigned there in '79. He was taken away in handcuffs a year before, in '78. I lived in the same quarters he had in the rectory - the priest's house, living room, bedroom. So the bedroom that's described by his testimony at the trial became my bedroom."
Kiesle has been in custody for years. In 2022, he was charged in a fatal DUI crash in Walnut Creek.
In a statement regarding the abuse, the Diocese of Oakland reiterated Bishop Michael Barber's 2024 public apology to survivors and said the diocese has implemented "decisive policies for the protection of youth, and for the vetting and training of clergy, staff and volunteers working in all Catholic institutions."
Stier said he remains driven to push for change within the church. "I'm strongly motivated to try to change the Catholic Church, the way they handle this abuse problem."