Suit Alleges Abuse by Ex-Fort Shafter Priest

Honolulu Star-Advertiser
October 1, 2011

A 48-year-old man who says he was an altar boy when he was a teenager in Hawaii is suing retired Holy Family Catholic Academy Administrator the Rev. Maurice G. McNeely for allegedly sexually abusing him in 1976.

At the time of the alleged abuse, McNeely was a military chaplain at Fort Shafterand priest of Holy Family Parish, according to a lawsuit filed in federal court Thursday.

The man, who identifies himself in the lawsuit as John Doe No. 87, said his father was in the military stationed at Fort Shafter, and the family lived across the street from the church.

He said he had repressed memories of the abuse until two years ago. He is also suing the Catholic Diocese of Bismark in North Dakota, which he says was responsible for assigning and supervising McNeely.

McNeely was administrator of Holy Family Catholic Academy from 1987 to 2001. He now lives in Michigan.

Following his retirement McNeely wrote the book "Catholicism Without the Guilt."