ROCHESTER (NY)
Star-Gazette
July 25, 2005
By DIANA LOUISE CARTER
Gannett News Service
ROCHESTER - A Roman Catholic priest in the Rochester Diocese was charged last week with sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of a child, the diocese said Sunday.
Rochester police said they arrested the Rev. Dennis Sewar, 54, most recently pastor of a suburban Rochester church, on Friday. The misdemeanor charges were filed in connection with a 1999 incident when Sewar was pastor of Church of the Annunciation in northeast Rochester, police said.
Sewar, a priest since 1983, was not assigned to any diocesan church at the time of his arrest, the diocese said Sunday in a news release. He was on sabbatical from January until June 14, when he was placed on administrative leave, the diocese said.
Diocesan spokesman Michael Tedesco said the diocese learned of the allegations in April and the Rochester Police Department was immediately notified. He said the sabbatical had nothing to do with the allegations.