Archdiocese Assails Priest’s Claim That Pastor Framed Him : Trial: Attorney for Father David Piroli, who is accused of embezzling collections, says former head of church in Simi Valley stole money and planted it on his client.

Reacting angrily to a Simi Valley priest’s allegation that he was framed for embezzlement by another priest, the Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles attacked the claims Thursday as “a gross injustice” made without substantiation.

Father David Dean Piroli, 37, is on trial for charges that he embezzled $60,000 in donations from two Ventura County churches--St. Peter Claver in Simi Valley and Sacred Heart in Saticoy.

On Tuesday, attorney Richard Beada said in court he will defend Piroli with a countercharge--that Father James McKeon, former pastor at St. Peter Claver, was stealing the money and planted the cash in Piroli’s car and rectory rooms because the younger priest was about to blow the whistle on him.

McKeon had access to the same collection money and church bank accounts as Piroli, Beada argued, and was worried that Piroli was going to report to the diocese that he was skimming so much cash that “the church (was) on the verge of collapse.”

Beada also told the court he would have witnesses testify that McKeon was seen at a West Hollywood gay bathhouse, and he gave the judge a videotape that he said proved that assertion.

McKeon apparently was stealing money from the church to support this activity, Beada said.

Ventura County Superior Court Judge Allan L. Steele said he would allow Beada to use the counterallegations to defend Piroli, but he refused to let jurors see or hear any evidence on allegations of homosexuality.

McKeon has declined to comment. But on Thursday, Father Gregory Coiro, spokesman for the archdiocese, issued this statement:

“As the victim of the crimes for which Father David Piroli is on trial, the archdiocese is reluctant to comment on the case, which is being competently prosecuted by the Ventura County district attorney’s office.

“However, considering allegations made by the defense attorney, Richard Beada,” the statement said, “we must declare in no uncertain terms that we are just as appalled as Assistant Dist. Atty. Mary Peace, who called Mr. Beada’s assertions ‘outrageous and unsupported.’ ”

The statement concluded: “It is a gross injustice when an individual, who is not on trial, is victimized in open court by allegations that are unsubstantiated and which are so defamatory of one’s good name.”

Jury selection continued Thursday, and testimony is expected to begin next week. Piroli faces two felony counts of grand theft.