ROCHESTER (NY)
WROC
7/24/2005 6:30 PM
(Joylynn Whitfield, WROC-TV)
Father Dennis Sewar, 54, was arrested and charged Friday with sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of a child.
The alleged sex abuse happened between August 1999 and August 2001 while Father Sewar served at the Annunciation Church in Rochester.
Parishoners the church Sewar last pastored were shocked by the news,
"Very shocked and very stunned, because you just wouldn't think anything like this could happen to this man," said Jean Syracusa.
In a written statement from the Catholic Diocese of Rochester, Bishop Matthew Clark said, "I am deeply disturbed by these allegations...After receiving information related to alleged inappropriate behavior on Rev. Sewar's part, the Diocese of Rochester immediately asked local authorities to investigate."