Deposition of Priest Witness I - assigned with Kelly from 1959 to 1962
Date of Deposition: January 24, 2007

 Depo of Witness I Vol. 1 (1-24-07)

The deposition transcript redactions are necessitated by a protective order sought and obtained by the Archbishop and his lawyers during the coordination proceeding. The following summary identifies by page and line number key portions of deposition testimony that would have been utilized had the Father Kelly cases proceeded to trial.

Priest Witness I was assigned with Father Kelly from 1959 to 1962. He testified he knew about Father Kelly's cabin, but was not aware of Kelly taking anyone to it. Depo page 35, line 25 to page 37, line 17. He could not recall ever seeing any boys on the second floor of the rectory where the priests lived, and it was unusual to see them on the first floor. Depo page 83, line 6 to page 84, line 25. He could not recall seeing any of these boys talk with Father Kelly in the rectory. Depo page 85, line 12-15. Nor did he recall Kelly locking himself in his room for days at a time or drinking excessively. Depo page 97, lines 2-23. Although Former Priest Witness A testified he spoke with Priest Witness I about Kelly's drinking problems, and Priest Witness I acknowledged them but did not want to talk about them, at his deposition Priest Witness I denied ever telling anyone Kelly had a drinking problem. Compare Depo page 121, line 24 to 122, line 10 with Former Priest Witness A's depo testimony at page 80, lines 4 to 24.

Priest Witness I's testimony regarding what life was like with Father Kelly, beginning on Page 35, should be contrasted with that of Former Priest Witness A's testimony regarding knowledge of Father Kelly taking boys to the cabin and to Kelly's room in the rectory, as well as regarding how Father Kelly was viewed by other priests and parish staff members. It is difficult to understand how two men - Priest Witness I and Former Priest Witness A - could have such dramatically different recollections and observations of what life was like with Father Kelly at Our Lady of Guadalupe, particularly where both men were in residence at the parish during some of the same time periods. It is also hard to imagine Priest Witness I forgetting about discussing Kelly's drinking problem with Former Priest Witness A. The only reasonable conclusion is that one of them is not telling the truth.