A new court filing in Grand Falls-Windsor reveals letters indicating a Catholic church official moved a priest to an Ontario treatment centre in 1970 after allegations involving boys, more than 15 years before the priest was convicted of sexual assault.
The documents, described in a report from CBC, show how the church administrator handled the situation at the time. The letters suggest steps were taken to relocate the priest rather than pursue immediate public accountability, with the actions occurring well before the priest’s 1985 conviction.
The case centers on Father Leonard Joseph Kelly, pictured in archival material, who later faced criminal charges linked to sexual assault. The new evidence pertains to a 1970 decision connected to his relocation, and the court action in Grand Falls-Windsor is part of ongoing legal proceedings arising from these historical events.
Details about the exact nature of the allegations, the identities of the church officials involved beyond references to a local bishop, and the outcomes of the related court action are not provided in the available materials. The report emphasizes the timeline: alleged incidents involving boys in the 1970s, a move to an Ontario treatment facility, and a conviction occurring more than a decade later.
As the court case progresses, more information is expected to emerge about how the church managed the allegations and whether it influenced or delayed reporting. The story underscores questions about how such cases were handled within church structures at the time and what lessons may be drawn from the documented correspondence.
