investigation, the most damaging evidence may have been put in writing. here s gary tuchman with who night s crime and punishment report. reporter: the man in this car is a convicted child molestor. he s also a former catholic priest. he spent time in prison. his abuses cost the church millions in settlement money to his victims. obviously i had an inclination to improper conduct with children. reporter: this is steven keesley. today, his victim is 52. he said he suffered years of abuse by steve often at the seminary.
where church files have surfaced showing that before he became pope, then cardinal joseph ratzinger signed a letter resisting the defrocking of a california priest convicted of child sexual abuse. the ap obtained that letter. take a look. father steven keesley, a priest in oakland, california was sentenced to probation for tying up and molesting two young boys inside the church rectory in 1978. the local bishop wrote several letters to the vatican office headed by the then cardinal joseph ratzinger, now pope benedict, trying to remove kiesle. shows cardinal ratzinger turned down a request from oakland bishop john cummings to defrock. in latin, it was a case of grave significance, but declined to take action, worried he said about the impact on the good of the universal church. the ap says the vatican confirms