Priest Once Stationed in Chicopee Accused of Abuse

By Anthony Fay
WWLP
November 7, 2013

http://www.wwlp.com/news/local/hampden/priest-once-stationed-in-chicopee-accused-of-abuse

CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) - The Diocese of Springfield is alerting parishioners of a Chicopee church that a priest once stationed there has been accused of sexually abusing a minor back in the 1970’s.

Mark Dupont, spokesperson for the Diocese of Springfield notified 22News that an accusation of abuse has been made in Maryland against Franciscan Fr. Michael Kolodziej. The priest had been stationed at St. Stanislaus Basilica in Chicopee from 1991 to 2001.

According to a news release from the Archdiocese of Baltimore, Kolodziej is accused of abusing a student while he was a teacher at Archbishop Curley High School, an all-boys Franciscan school in Baltimore. The student says that the abuse happened on several occasions between 1975 and 1979 when Kolodziej would wrestle with him.

In response to the allegation, the Franciscan Order has suspended Kolodziej from all public duties as a priest.

No other allegations have surfaced against the priest, who is now 69 years old, but Dupont says that if you have any knowledge of abuse by Fr. Kolodziej or any other member of the clergy or church employee, you should call (800) 842-9055.

Dupont says that a message from the Diocese about the situation will be distributed during Masses over the weekend.