Former Chicopee Priest Accused of Sexual Abuse in Maryland

WGGB
November 7, 2013

http://www.wggb.com/2013/11/07/former-chicopee-priest-accused-of-sexual-abuse-in-maryland/


A priest, who spent ten years serving at a Chicopee church, has been accused of sexual abuse in Maryland.

Archdiocese of Baltimore spokesperson Sean Caine says in a statement that a former student of Archbishop Curley High School in Baltimore alleges that 69-year-old Father Michael Kolodziej abused him on several occasions “while Fr. Kolodziej wrestled him” from 1975 to 1979.

Caine adds that Kolodziej has held several positions at churches and Catholic schools along the east coast since his ordination in 1970, including serving at St. Stanislaus Basilica in Chicopee from 1991 to 2001.

Upon learning of the allegation, officials at Archbishop Curley High alerted authorities, Caine says, who adds that police have also been notified.

The school, The Order of Friars Minor Conventual, of which Kolodziej is a member, and the Archdiocese of Baltimore are cooperating in the investigation.

No other allegations of misconduct involving against Kolodziej have surfaced.

The Order of Friars Minor Conventual has since suspended Kolodziej from all public ministry and Caine notes that his “faculties to function as a priest in the Archdiocese of Baltimore” have been withdrawn.

Mark Dupont, spokesperson for the Diocese of Springfield, says because of Kolodziej’s past assignment in western Massachusetts, a copy of the notice from the Archdiocese of Baltimore regarding this allegation will be distributed at Masses this weekend at St. Stanislaus.

Dupont adds that if anyone has any knowledge of sexual abuse of a minor by any member of clergy or church staff to contact Patricia McManamy the Diocese’s victim assistance coordinator, at (800) 842-9055.