Former Buffalo Priest Facing Sex Abuse Allegations

WKBW
November 8, 2013

http://www.wkbw.com/news/local/Former-Buffalo-Priest-Facing-Sex-Abuse-Allegations-231219321.html

[with video]

Father Michael Kolodziej, 69 is accused of sexually abusing a student while he was a teacher at a catholic school in Baltimore, MD.

The victim claims Kolodziej abused him several times all while the father wrestled him. The alleged incidents happened between 1975 to 1979.

Kolodziej was ordained into the priesthood through the Diocese of Buffalo in 1970 and over the next 18 years he served in many roles in Western New York including hospital chaplain, associate pastor and school director at St. Mary of Sorrows church in Buffalo. He was a teacher at Bishop Turner High School and Villa Maria College in Buffalo until he entered the franciscan order in 1974.

Kolodziej was also a teacher and assistant principal at St. Francis High School and principal at Cardinal O'hara High School.

The allegations from Baltimore have prompted the Buffalo Diocese to take action and release this statement,

"We are now following our Diocesan policies to determine whether there are any issues arising from his tenure as a priest of our diocese. We have posted the information on our website and requested anyone with knowledge about father Kolodziej to contact us."

The Diocese of Buffalo is asking anyone who has any knowledge of child sexual abuse by clergy or other church personnel to call their confidential hotline: 716-895-3010. You can also find a link on our website wkbw.com under newslinks.

Father Kolodziej has been suspended from his current assignment at a church in Georgia while police investigate.