Former Bishop Phillip Straling of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Reno has been named as a key witness in more than 150 lawsuits in Southern California against priests accused of molesting children.

According to a published report in News 4's news partner the Reno Gazette-Journal, the suits allege Straling should have known that some priests were having sex with children in his former Diocese of San Bernardino but did nothing to stop them. Straling was bishop in San Bernardino from 1978 to 1995 when he moved to Reno.

Straling, who retired in June at age 72, is not accused of sexual abuse himself. Straling declined comment and referred all questions to the San Bernardino diocese.

A spokesman for the San Bernardino diocese praised Straling's efforts to protect children. But lawyers say they're eager for Straling to testify under oath about some of the most notorious priests in the country.

(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)