Servants of the Paraclete Seeks Dismissal in Catholic Priest Abuse Lawsuit; Victim Speaks out

By Nicole Maxwell
Alamogordo Daily News
June 17, 2020

https://www.alamogordonews.com/story/news/local/community/2020/06/17/catholic-priest-abuse-servants-paraclete-seek-lawsuit-dismissal-david-holley/5170809002/

The Servants of the Paraclete, named in a lawsuit over child sexual abuse by Catholic priests, asked a New Mexico court to dismiss the case in a June 10 response.

The Servants of the Paraclete is one of several defendants, including two Alamogordo Catholic parishes, named in the case filed in the 2nd Judicial District Court in Bernalillo County. The suit was filed by "John Doe" and alleged negligence, intentional infliction of emotional distress, vicarious liability, public nuisance and racketeering.

The Servants of the Paraclete denied the allegations in the original complaint, admitting only that, acting as a nonprofit corporation, it ran a facility in Albuquerque and Jemez Springs in 1971. The Servants of the Paraclete was originally founded as a recovery and rehabilitation facility for alcoholic and drug addicted clergy before they started receiving priests with pedophilic tendencies.

"The complaint fails to state claims, in whole or in part, upon which relief can be granted as a matter of law," the response states.

Fr. David Holley (Photo: Courtesy photo/Bishop Accountability)

Fr. David Holley was a patient at Servants of the Paraclete in the early 1970s before he was sent to Alamogordo to what was then St. Jude Mission Church. It is St. Jude Catholic Parish now.

The Servants of the Paraclete's response states that many of the allegations are "completely irrelevant and immaterial to this action and/or because they constitute argument, not alleged facts."

While the name of the victim in New Mexico who filed the suit remains anonymous, one of Holley's Worcester Diocese victims remained vocal about his experience.

Holley abuse victim shares story

Phil Saviano was 11 years old when he first met the late Fr. David Holley in March 1964.

Saviano spoke to the Alamogordo Daily News via phone on May 11.

Saviano was in a catechism class in Holley's second parish assignment at St. Denis Church in Douglas, Massachusetts. Holley was assigned to St. Denis for 18 months before being reassigned to another church within the Worcester Diocese, Saviano said.

"Spotlight" actor Neal Huff (left) and Phil Saviano, the real man Huff plays onscreen, arrive at the Independent Spirit Awards. (Photo: Nina Prommer, European Pressphoto Agency)

"I was one of his earliest victims," Saviano said. "My family lived just up the street from the church and the rectory. I was not an altar boy but I was Catholic."

In Holley's first week at St. Denis Church, he went to all of the catechism classes and was introduced by the nun who was teaching the catechism.

A couple of weeks later, Holley came back to the sixth grade catechism class. The students stood up out of respect, Saviano said.

Holley asked the nun about Saviano and asked her to ask him to stay after class to help him move some hymnals from the choir loft to the basement.

"I did that and it was just him and me at the church, not long, about 45 minutes, moving these boxes," Saviano said. "He was very, very friendly and he was curious about me and my family life and what subjects I liked in school, who were my friends. I just thought that he had taken an interest in me and I felt kind of lucky and special, I guess."

Saviano said that he thought Holley was very friendly for a priest and Holley gave him 50 cents for helping with the chores. Although no abuse happened at that first experience, the abuse began a few weeks later.

"This whole process I was going through is what we now refer to as the grooming process," Saviano said, "where he was paying attention to me and making me feel good, acting like my friend. I had no reason to suspect that there was something going on here that was going to lead to something that was not to my liking."

The abuse began with a card game using cards with pictures of naked women on them, and escalated, Saviano said.

Reflecting on the interaction as an adult, Saviano said, "It's fishy from the beginning."

"It was not long after that when there were three of us boys with him in the vestibule of the church, I think we had been doing some chores, we were waiting for our quarters so we could go home and get on with our day," Saviano said.

Holley told the boys that to get their quarters for helping with chores, they would have to get the quarters out of Holley's pants pocket. Saviano said Holley then showed his penis to the boys.

"It was not long after that when there were three of us boys with him in the vestibule of the church, I think we had been doing some chores, we were waiting for our quarters so we could go home and get on with our day," Saviano said.

Holley told the boys that to get their quarters for helping with chores, they would have to get the quarters out of Holley's pants pocket. Saviano said Holley then showed his penis to the boys.