Father Matthew Kelly
Archdiocese of Los Angeles
Ordained: 1942
Died: 2002
Assigned as follows:
- 1942-1951: Our Lady of Guadalupe (Santa Barbara, CA)
- 1951-1952: St. Joseph’s (Pomona, CA
- 1952-1954: Bishops’ Committee for the Spanish Speaking (Austin/Houston, TX)
- 1955-1956: Our Lady of Guadalupe (Los Angeles, CA)
- 1956-1971: Our Lady of Guadalupe (Santa Barbara, CA)
- 1971-1976: St. Mariana de Paredes (Pico Rivera, CA)
- 1976-1987: St. Sebastian (Santa Paula, CA)
- 1988-2000: Unknown
- 2001: In residence at Nazareth House (Los Angeles, CA)
Summary of Abuse Allegations against Father Matthew Kelly:
According to media reports, parishioners complained of Father Matthew Kelly’s behavior as early as 1970. He allegedly preyed on children in an impoverished and marginalized Hispanic community for nearly 30 years. In the 1940s and early 1950s, he ran a club for teenage boys while at Our Lady of Guadalupe, called “The Blue Jackets.” It is alleged he would sexually abuse members of the club. At least seven survivors have come forward alleging child sexual abuse by Father Kelly while he worked at Our Lady of Guadalupe in Santa Barbara from approximately 1957 to 1973.
Father Kelly was transferred to two other parishes before he retired in 1989. He died in 2002. In 2003 and 2004, he was named in at least four child sexual abuse lawsuits brought by 7 plaintiffs. It is believed he would bring young boys on retreats to his cabin in the Santa Ynez Mountains where he would sexually abuse the boys and offer them money in return. At least five witnesses reported seeing child pornography in his mail.
The plaintiff’s claims were included in the massive $660 million Archdiocese of Los Angeles settlement of 2007. His name appeared on the Archdiocese of Los Angeles’ list of clergy credibly accused of sex abuse of minors.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. If you need a lawyer because you were sexually abused by a priest or other Catholic clergy in California State, contact our office today. Although many years have passed, those abused by Catholic clergy in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles now have legal options, but filing deadlines will apply so do not delay in reaching out to us. Our lawyers have decades of experience representing survivors of clergy sexual abuse in Los Angeles and nationwide. We can help.
Contact us at 888-283-9922 or [email protected] to discuss your options today.