Former Wny Priest Accused of Sex Abuse

By Rich Newberg
WIVB
November 8, 2013

http://www.wivb.com/news/crime/former-wny-priest-accused-of-sex-abuse

A priest who used to be an assistant high school principal in Hamburg has been accused of sexually abusing one of his former students.

Fr. Michael Kolodziej has now been banned from public ministry. The Buffalo Diocese and other dioceses where he once worked are asking if anyone else may have been abused by the priest.

Kolodziej was ordained in Buffalo in 1970 and first served as a hospital chaplain. Later he was a teacher and assistant principal at St. Francis High School in Athol Springs, Associate Pastor at St. Mary of Sorrows Church, and teacher at Bishop Turner High School and Villa Maria College.

During his time as a teacher Baltimore's Archbishop Curly High School, from 1975 to 1979, one of his former students now has come forward saying he was sexually abused by Kolodziej.

Sean Caine of the Archdiocese of Baltimore said, "[The former student claimed] that he was inappropriately touched on numerous occasions while wrestling with Fr. Kolodziej during that time period."

The Buffalo Diocese has issued a statement saying it has been made aware of the allegations involving Kolodziej.

"We are following our diocesan policies to determine whether there are any issues arising from his tenure s a priest of our diocese."

Meanwhile, the Archdiocese of Baltimore and the Franciscan Friars conducted their own investigation.

"We determined the allegation to be credible and Fr. Kolodziej has been permanently barred from ministry, not only by his religious community, but by the various diocese where he served," Caine said.

There is a concern there may be other alleged victims. If you have any information you would like to share, contact the Buffalo Diocese.