October 14, 2003

MORRISTOWN (NJ)
Star-Ledger

BY JEFF DIAMANT AND BRIAN T. MURRAY
Star-Ledger Staff


A Morris County man who was abused by a Roman Catholic priest as a youth, then began speaking out last year about his ordeal to other victims as well as church reformers, committed suicide this weekend.


James Kelly, 37, of Morristown was killed when he was struck by an eastbound NJ Transit train in Morristown about 5 a.m. Sunday. Kelly lay down on the tracks and waited for the train to hit him, authorities said. 

Matt Kelly said yesterday he did not know how big a factor the sex abuse his brother endured at St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church in Mendham played in James Kelly’s decision to kill himself.


“He had a lot of problems. I’m not comfortable saying (the sex abuse) was the primary reason, but I don’t know,” Matt Kelly said. He and other family members declined further comment.


James Kelly was an active member of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests and had been a featured speaker at meetings of the Voice of the Faithful, a church reform group.

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