NEW YORK
WGRZ
Author: Emily Lampa
While the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo has recently released names of accused priests, it has still been largely “hands off” when it comes to acknowledging sexual abuse by religious order brothers, sisters and lay people. But now, a 2014 accusation made against a Franciscan friar prompts response from Catholic leaders.
The Buffalo News was the first to report Monday on 71-year-old Fr. Michael Lewandowski. In 2014 he was accused of sexually abusing a minor some time in the 1980’s.
A review of the official Catholic directories found that in the 80’s and early 90’s Lewandowski was assigned to Saint Francis High School in Hamburg, and Cardinal O’Hara High School in the Town of Tonawanda.
The Buffalo Diocese declined an on camera interview with 2 On Your Side, but a spokesperson sent us a statement which reads, in part:
“While it does appear that Fr. Lewandowski spent all of the 1980’s here in WNY I can not elaborate on any specifics as it relates to whether (or when) accusations were brought to our attention, and where any alleged activity would have occurred.”
The president of St. Francis High School also sent a statement by e-mail:
“I’m unable to comment because the allegation regarding Friar Michael Lewandowski did not involve a student or other person from Saint Francis High School.”
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