8 more men claim sexual abuse by New Mexico priest

  Sarah Auffret

  12/31/1992

  USA Today

  FINAL

  Page 03A

  (Copyright 1992)

  ALBUQUERQUE - More allegations of sexual abuse against the Rev. David

  Holley - this time by eight men who say he raped or molested them in the 1970s

  - rocked New Mexico on Wednesday.

  The men sued Holley, 65, and the Roman Catholic Diocese of El Paso, charging

  he photographed them, forced them to visit sex shops and engage in sex while

  they were altar boys and yard workers.

  Holley is the fifth priest from the state linked to 40 sexual assault victims in the

  past 10 months. The major treatment center for pedophile priests is in Jenez

  Springs, N.M.

  ``New Mexico is a dumping ground for pedophile priests,'' said Bruce

  Pasternack, the lawyer representing the plaintiffs. ``The church had them say

  prayers and rosaries, then they released them for sexual sabbaticals with young

  boys.''

  The Rev. Edward Roden-Lucero, speaking for the Archdiocese of El Paso, did

  not comment on the charges, but accused Pasternack of trying the case in the

  media.

  Holley, now retired and reportedly at a treatment center, was unavailable for

  comment.

  In a pair of recent cases, the Rev. James Porter, formerly of Albuquerque, was

  convicted of sexual molestation charges in Minnesota and awaits another trial in

  Massachusetts. His lawyer Wednesday said Porter seeks another Minnesota trial.

  The Rev. Art Perrault of Santa Fe, N.M., disappeared two months ago after

  being sued.

  At least 27 of Holley's victims have come forward since Pasternack filed suit

  Dec. 16 on behalf of Joe Hafermann of Minneapolis and Mark Sanchez of

  Albuquerque.

  Scott Bruce was 13 when Holley hired him as a yard worker. He says Holley

  often picked him up at home, took him to X-rated movie houses in El Paso to

  molest him, photographed him and forced him into sex with others.

  Bruce's parents say that's when their son began having nightmares and using

  drugs.

  ``When I saw the article about the first victims ... I told my husband, `this is

  where we lost our boy,' '' said his mother, Ann Bruce, a probate judge in

  Alamogordo.''

  Now 32 and a construction worker in Antioch, Calif., Bruce believes he'd still be

  married if he'd confided to his wife how Holley had hurt him.

  ``He'd give us money and presents, and take us to the movies or golfing,'' says

  Robert Curtis, 33, an Albuquerque attorney who had flashbacks of being

  molested by Holley after he saw a news program featuring the Rev. Porter.

  ``Our families had him over for dinner. Later he gave us pornography and told us

  God sent him to teach us how to be men.'' Contributing: Jonathan T. Lovitt