Nebraska

I was placed in Boystown in 1980 and was sexually abused by Father Kelley. I was on the “Presidential level” (point system) at our residence which very few young men ever reach there. I was the starting quarterback on the junior varsity football team as a 7th grader-on the varsity baseball team also as a 7th grader and had 2 baseball coaches who were ex major league baseball players ( Coach Benedict and Coach Schneiz(sp) who both told me I had what it took to be a big league player and stick with them there and work hard and they would help my dream come true. Then I started counseling sessions with Father Kelley. I was so horrified/ashamed and embarrassed about what was happening that I did everything I could my entire life to keep anyone from finding out. I remember it being very confusing how he would say this is how God wants it to be and my shame was from the devil and evil. After a cpl years of being the absolute best I could-pdesident of student body- presidential level athletic acheivements, a call was made to my mother and my houseparents told her that I wanted to come home and how well I was doing and they recommended it too. Her response was if hes doing that well I need to stay-I was devastated. When the abuse didnt stop I stole a car from the house I stayed at and just drove around waiting for the police to see me. I knew there were only a few ways to get kicked out and that would be one of them. After leaving Boystown I continued playing sports and ended up with 3 shoeboxes full of offers for football-basketball and baseball but didnt accept any. All the sports I played and all the after practice n game showers I never took one. I didnt want anyone seeing me naked especially another guy. I knew if I went to college to play ball that would have to change or I’d have to tell someone why I dont shower with the team. I was always the one scoring 30-40 points in basketball or 20 tackles and 4 touchdowns in football so I could get away with it but knew it wasnt gonna be sthe case in college. I never looked it up once on the internet-never reached out to anyone after I left but it is something that I’ve thought about everyday after I left. I’ve gone through bouts of wondering if it really did happen..was I really even in boystown..etc. Just a few months ago I remembered that there was a boy younger than me that stayed at the same house named Tommie and he was a used too because he tLked Bout it

My son when he was a child going to Catholic grade school was tortured and abused by a priest and 2 nuns in Omaha, NE in 1991-1992. He struggles daily with nightmares, PTSD, health issues and pain from these horrific events. He has shared some of his story with me which is heartbreaking.

Endured more pain and abuse than should have ever happened.
Priest using money, liquor and power to lure young alter boy into sexual abuse……Grown man living with the pain and fear of sharing his story, and the embarrassment of anyone knowing. It happened in OMAHA!!