Fr. David A. Holley

Ordained: 1958
Status: Convicted

Died: 11/25/2008
Diocese: Diocese of Worcester MA

Ordained for the Benedictines in 1958; “dispensed” from the order in 1962. Became a Worcester diocesan priest. The first known sexual abuse was of minors in MA. Holley was sent to the Servants of the Paraclete in Jemez Springs, NM for treatment. He abused many children in many states. After abusing in El Paso, Holley was transferred by Bishop Metzger to the San Angelo, TX diocese. He was convicted in 1993 of sexually abusing 8 boys during 1972-1974 in Alamogordo NM; sentenced to 275 years. Died in prison 11/25/2008, buried in NM. Accused in a new federal suit of abusing, along with D. Barfield and W. Diamond, a boy in Alamogordo. He and Diamond also worked together earlier. A new suit was filed in Denver in 12/2013. Included on the Santa Fe archdiocese’s list of accused 9/12/2017. On the Las Cruces diocese’s list 11/8/2018. On the Amarillo diocese’s list 1/31/2019. On El Paso’s list 1/31/2019. On San Angelo’s list 2/13/2019. A new suit was filed 3/31/2020 against the Servants of the Paraclete, the Las Cruces, El Paso and Worcester dioceses, and two Alamogordo parishes for abuse of a boy in the 1970s.  Included on the St. Benedict’s Abbey (Bene Lake WI) list, as “Fr. Benet Joseph Holey.” Abuse noted to have occurred in the 1950s in PA. Accused in a new lawsuit filed in 7/2025 of a 10 to 11-year-old altar boy 1975 through 1976, while assigned to Immaculate Conception Parish in Alamagordo NM. Per the suit, the abuse was “frequent and brutal.”


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