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Two more Buffalo Diocese priests added to abuse list

More than 100 priests accused of misconduct
Posted at 10:03 PM, Jan 07, 2019
and last updated 2019-01-08 08:46:36-05

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — Two more Buffalo Diocese priests have been added to the church's official abuse list.

The diocese on Monday added the Revs. Fabian J. Maryanski and Mark J. Wolski to its “List of priests with substantiated allegations of child sexual abuse.”

Allegations against both clerics had previously been substantiated but the diocese came under criticism for not including the priests on its official list of sexually abusive priests.

"Moving forward, when a priest is determined to have substantiated allegations against him, his name will immediately go on the List," the diocese wrote in a Tweet.

The diocese's official list now includes 80 priests, but a list published by 7 Eyewitness News (based on court records and news articles) shows that a total of 111 priests and nuns have been accused of some form of sexual misconduct in the diocese.

Fr. Wolski was accused of sexual abuse in May, when it was also revealed he served on the diocese's child abuse review board. He did not comment at the time of his suspension.

Fr. Maryanski was accused of sexual abuse in the 1990s but the diocese allowed him to remain in ministry until this year. Maryanski admitted to sexual contact with Stephanie McIntyre but insisted she was in her 20s at the time. McIntyre said the sexual abuse started when she was a teenager.

KEY LINKS IN THE BUFFALO DIOCESE SEX ABUSE SCANDAL:

Part 1of the 7 Eyewitness News I-Team investigation revealed that Malone returned Fr. Art Smith to ministry despite allegations of inappropriate contact with a child. Malone returned the accused priests to ministry after a previous bishop suspended him, documents obtained by the 7 Eyewitness News I-Team show.

Part 2 revealed that Malone allowed Fr. Robert Yetter to remain pastor of St. Mary's in Swormville despite multiple sexual harassment allegations by young men. 

Part 3 cited church records that showed more than 100 priests in the diocese were accused of sexual abuse or misconduct. Malone in March released a list of only 42 priests "who were removed from ministry, were retired, or left ministry after allegations of sexual abuse of a minor." 

The investigative series sparked Buffalo civic leaders to call for Malone's resignation and Catholics have mounted weekly protests in front of the Diocese of Buffalo Chancery. Malone in August held a news conference and refused to resign as Buffalo bishop.

In September, the State Attorney General launched a statewide investigation into sexual abuse in the Catholic Church and last week, it was revealed the FBI has launched its own criminal investigation into the diocese.

In October, "60 Minutes" aired a national investigative story on Bishop Malone and the Diocese of Buffalo. 

In November, I-Team Chief Investigator Charlie Specht traveled to Portland, Maine. Malone served as bishop there before coming to Buffalo. There, Charlie spoke with advocates for victims of sexual abuse about how Malone had been accused of mishandling sex abuse cases. The I-Team also obtained new documents surrounding the cases which paint a much different picture of the bishop’s past.

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