Newly found letters reveal how a Newfoundland bishop handled priest abuse allegations

Archival letters from 1970 reveal Bishop John Michael O’Neill told Father Leonard Joseph Kelly to leave his Baie Verte assignment immediately, suggesting he cite medical reasons to avoid public scandal. The bishop avoided convening a consultative meeting out of fear that details might leak. Instead, he arranged for Kelly to be admitted to the Southdown Institute near Toronto, a facility used for clergy with various behavioral issues.

Guardian Insurance, the church’s insurer, has filed a legal request to compel Southdown to release Kelly’s therapy files, arguing they could show the diocese was aware of his risk to children before the insurer’s policy was issued in the 1980s. Kelly was later convicted of sexual assault on minors and sentenced to probation and jail. The insurer seeks to limit coverage based on alleged nondisclosure. The letters also indicate the bishop emphasized the importance of keeping the matter hidden to protect the church’s reputation in the province.