Assignment Record– Rev. Michael/Micheal H. Kelley

Summary of Case: Michael (aka Micheal) Kelley was a priest of the Indianapolis archdiocese ordained in 1985. He worked in parishes in Greensburg, Greenwood, Clinton, Universal and Starlight. In 1989 an 18-year-old youth reported to the archdiocese that Kelley fondled him. He said Kelley had been his father figure and spiritual mentor since he was in eighth grade. Kelley was kept in ministry until 2002, when his accuser went to the archdiocese a second time to report the incident. Kelley admitted his behavior and was sent to St. Luke Institute in Maryland for treatment. His status 2002-2005 was "unassigned." According to the archdiocese on its list in 2018 of credibly accused priests, Kelley was accused of sexually abusing two minors, in 1990 and in 1992. 

Ordained: 1985

1985

Indianapolis archbishop was Edward Thomas O'Meara (1979-1992).

Greensburg

St. Mary's had a school with 243-252 students.

1989

Greenwood

• An 18-year-old male reported to the archdiocese in 1989 that Kelley fondled him at Our Lady of the Greenwood's rectory. Kelley was said to have been the youth's spiritual mentor and father figure during junior and senior high school. Kelley admitted to the incident in 2002.

1991

O'Meara was succeeded by Daniel Mark Buechlein, O.S.B. (1992-2011).

Clinton

• Per the archdiocese on its list of credibly accused in 2018, Kelley was accused of abusing two minors, in 1990 and in 1992.

Sources: Official Catholic Directory (New York: P.J. Kenedy and Sons, 1986-2005)

• Priest Quits, Admits Past Misconduct, By Bonnie Harris and Judith Cebula, Indianapolis Star, September 6, 2002
Starlight Priest Resigns As Pastor
• Kelley Admits Sex Misconduct with an Adult, By Meghan Hoyer, Courier-Journal [Louisville KY], September 7, 2002
• 3 Accused Priests Await Decision, By Bonnie Harris, Indianapolis Star, December 17, 2002
• Accused Priest Resigns, By Diana Penner, Indianapolis Star [Indianapolis IN], May 9, 2003

Priests in a Parish: We use the following convention to show a priest's place among the clergy of a parish: 1/2 means that he is the first priest listed in the Official Catholic Directory (usually the pastor) and that there is a total of two priests at the parish. The shorthand 3/4 means that the priest is listed third on a four-priest roster. See our sample page from the Directory.

Note: The Official Catholic Directory aims to report the whereabouts of Catholic priests in the United States on January 1 of the Directory's publication year. Our working assumption is that a priest listed in the Directory for a given year was at the same assignment for part of the previous year as well. However, Kenedy and Sons will sometimes accept updates well into the year of publication. Diocesan clergy records are rarely available to correct this information. The Directory is also sometimes misleading or wrong. We have tried to create an accurate assignment record, given the source materials and their limitations. Assignment records are a work in progress and we are always improving the records that we post. Please email us with new information and corrections.

This assignment record collates Kelley's career history as it is represented in the Official Catholic Directory with allegations as reported in the media. We make no representation regarding the truth of the allegation we report, and we remind our readers that the U.S. legal system presumes that a person accused of or charged with a crime is innocent until proven guilty. Similarly, individuals who may be defendants in civil actions are presumed not to be liable for such claims unless a plaintiff proves otherwise. Admissions of guilt or liability are not typically a part of civil or private settlements. For more information, see our posting policy.

This assignment record was last updated on March 9, 2021.