July 24, 2002

Kelley to be arraigned on charge of raping girl

By Kathleen A. Shaw, Telegram & Gazette Staff

WORCESTER-- The Rev. Robert E. Kelley will be arraigned at 9 a.m. today in Worcester Superior Court on a charge of unnatural rape of a 9-year-old girl. The alleged victim has not been identified.

The incident allegedly occurred several years ago when Rev. Kelley was serving as a Catholic priest at St. Cecilia's parish in Leominster. Rev. Kelley was indicted by the grand jury last week.

Elizabeth Stammo, spokeswoman for District Attorney John J. Conte, said Rev. Kelley is also due back to the court today for a pretrial conference on five other rape charges involving Heather Mackey of Tewksbury.

Rev. Kelley, who was not defrocked but has not functioned as a priest since 1986, has been free on personal recognizance.

Mary Jean of Leominster, who heads a group called Worcester Voice, a victims' advocates group, has called on people in Central Massachusetts to attend the court hearing and show support for the alleged victims.

Three civil suits are pending against Rev. Kelley. Ms. Mackey, Debbie A. Doucet of Leominster and Nicole Cormier of Fitchburg have filed suit in Middlesex Superior Court alleging they were sexually abused by Rev. Kelley while he was at St. Cecilia's. Karen A. Pedersen of Fitchburg and Claire Baillargeon Groccia of Sturbridge have filed suit in Worcester Superior Court alleging they were abused by Rev. Kelley. Ms. Pedersen said she was a member of St. Boniface parish in Lunenburg, and Ms. Groccia said she was a member of Notre Dame parish in Southbridge at the time of the alleged abuse. Jane Martin of Hampden recently filed a civil suit in Springfield alleging she was abused by Rev. Kelley when he was in Southbridge serving at Notre Dame parish.