More woman accuse Kelly of sex abuse
LEOMINSTER -- The number of women who say they were sexually abused by suspended priest Robert E. Kelley is multiplying, according to a woman suing Kelley.
Heather Mackey, 26, of Tewksbury, who has criminal charges and a civil suit pending against Kelley, said she has heard by e-mail from "12 to 15 other survivors, young girls that were abused by him.
"The e-mails have come in from Leominster, Lunenburg, Southbridge, and Gardner, all places that Kelley served as a parish priest," Mackey said.
Mackey alleges Kelley, 60, abused her while she was visiting her grandmother, a parishioner of St. Cecilia's in Leominster, between 1980 and 1983. Sisters Nicole Cormier, 32, of Fitchburg and Debbie Doucet, 34, of Leominster, former parishioners of St. Cecilia's, have joined Mackey in a lawsuit against Kelley; the Rev. George Denome, the former pastor of St. Cecilia's; the Rev. Francis T. Goguen, the current pastor; and the Diocese of Worcester.
"We have proof that the Diocese of Worcester knew about Kelley's abuse of the little girls before he was sent to Leominster, and just transferred him around. Therefore the Diocese of Worcester is on the suit as well," Mackey said.
She said she has received e-mails from parents of alleged victims, an aunt of an alleged victim, and others willing to provide information.
"As a result of the e-mail address, it has helped us and many others who have wanted to talk but were scared," she said. "It gives them a place they can go to share their stories without having to give their identity. So far, all but one has revealed their identity to us."
Kelley was arraigned May 16 in Leominster District Court on two counts of statutory rape of a child. Mackey identified herself as the alleged victim in that case. Kelley is now free on personal recognizance.
Kelley, who was suspended from priestly duties in 1986, has served a prison sentence for raping a young girl at Sacred Heart Church in Gardner, where he served from 1983 to 1985, and been found liable in a civil suit alleging sexual abuse of a girl while at the Gardner parish.
Besides serving at St. Cecilia's from 1976 to 1983, Kelley was assigned to Notre Dame Church in Southbridge from 1968 to 1974 and St. Boniface Church in Lunenburg from 1974 to 1976.
He is being sued by another group of women, including Karen Pederson of Fitchburg, who allege that he abused them while he served at St. Boniface.
The e-mail address for contacting Mackey, Cormier and Doucet is RKsurvivors@yahoo.com