State prison chaplain says sex charge ruined life

Friday, Feb. 7, 2003 | 11:11 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- The lawyer for the man who has accused a longtime Nevada prison chaplain of sexual abuse says there are other people who also allege they were victimized by the same priest.

William Walker, the attorney for Arizona resident James Duffy, alleges that the Rev. James F. Kelly is another example of pedophilia within the priesthood.

The 70-year-old Roman Catholic priest retired from his state prison chaplain position this week to fight Duffy's sexual abuse allegation. Kelly said Thursday that Duffy's lawsuit has ruined his life, is without merit and is motivated by greed.

Kelly, who has been chaplain at three state prisons in Carson City since 1995, said he is returning to Nebraska to fight the allegations that he abused Duffy when Duffy was a teen at Father Flanagan's Boys Town in Omaha.

Arizona resident James Duffy alleges in the lawsuit that he was molested by Kelly and family counselor Michael Wolf at the home for troubled and handicapped youth in 1978 and 1979. The lawsuit was filed against Boys Town and the Catholic Archdiocese of Omaha. Kelly and Wolf were not named as defendants.

Duffy and Walker are "going after the deep pockets" of Boys Town and the Catholic church, the priest alleged.

Kelly said he doesn't even remember Duffy. He said he was at Boys Town for 7 1/2 years and there were thousands of boys there during that time. Some of the alumni are contributing to Kelly's legal defense fund, the priest said. He also said those who remember Duffy characterized him as a person with a lot of problems.

Walker, however, said he wouldn't have even filed the suit if there was only one case of sexual misconduct. There are other people who have come forth and allege they have been victims of the priest, Walker said. And although Kelly has not been named a defendant in the federal court suit in Omaha, Walker said he is considering filing other suits.

Walker said Kelly gets moved from place to place every few years and there is is an allegation that Kelly abused young people in New York, his home diocese.

Walker, who is based in Tucson, recently was a member of a team of lawyers that represented 11 alleged victims of sexual molestation in Arizona. Those cases were settled out of court. Walker declined to say how much the church paid to settle the cases but Arizona newspapers reported it was $15 million.

"I won't comment on that but I won't deny it," Walker said.

Walker's latest client, Duffy, claims he suffered serious physical and psychological injuries as a result of the alleged abuse by Kelly.

Kelly, on the other hand, said his life has been ruined by the allegations. He has been placed on administrative leave by the Catholic Archdiocese of Reno and cannot perform his priestly duties.

"I'm praying for James Duffy. I believe in praying for those who are persecuting you," Kelly said.

Kelly said he doesn't blame the bishop for taking the action in light of the allegations around the nation. But he added, "I've lost my prison ministry and my whole life." He cannot say Mass or hear confessions.

Kelly requested retirement as chaplain rather than an indefinite temporary leave so he can fight the allegations. He intends to continue to live in Nevada.

Dorothy Nash Holmes, program administrator for the state Department of Corrections that oversees the prison, said: "During his tenure with the Nevada Department of Corrections, Father Kelly was a good chaplain who provided us with 'best practices' in religious services and was a source of support to many inmates and staff."

Holmes, who supervises religious services at the corrections department, said Kelly will be missed at the Northern Nevada Correctional Center, the Nevada State Prison and the Warm Springs Correctional Center, where he had been a chaplain.