Fr. Art Smith Hit with Child Victims Act Lawsuit, Maintains Innocence

By Mark Goshgarian
Spectrum Local News
September 12, 2019

https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/buffalo/news/2019/09/12/child-victims-act-lawsuit-filed-against-fr--art-smith

A month after the Child Victims Act look-back window opened, a lawsuit has been filed against Fr. Art Smith, a priest who was removed from ministry by Bishop Edward Kmiec and returned to ministry by Bishop Richard Malone.

The lawsuit was filed Thursday in Erie County Court by a victim who wishes to remain anonymous at this time. It comes from when he worked at Saint Bernadette Church in Orchard Park.

Fr. Smith has been accused of assault by several people, including his nephew Ryan Cooley and whistleblower Fr. Ryszard Biernat.

In April 2018, the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo confirmed Fr. Smith had been removed again from ministry. He last served at the Blessed Mother of Calcutta Parish in Depew.

Fr. Smith sat down with Spectrum News for his first one-on-one, on-camera interview to discuss the clergy abuse crisis and the abuse accusations that have been leveled against him for the past several decades. Watch in the video above.