Longtime priest suspended over child sex abuse allegation

A longtime priest in the Buffalo Diocese has been suspended over an allegation of child sex abuse.

The Rev. Mark Wolski most recently served at SS. Peter and Paul Church in Hamburg. He was also a longtime priest at St. John the Evangelist in South Buffalo.

"After receiving an abuse complaint against Rev. Mark J. Wolski, Bishop Richard J. Malone has placed Father Wolski on administrative leave as an investigation continues," the diocese said in a statement this morning. "Please note that this administrative leave is for the purpose of investigation and does not imply any determination as to the truth or falsity of the complaint."

Rev. Wolski is the 68th former or current clergy member in the Buffalo Diocese to face credible allegations of sexual misconduct. 

In Jan. 2003, then-Bishop Henry Mansell named Rev. Wolski to the Diocese of Buffalo's diocesan review board, which is charged with making decisions about sexual abuse allegations and helping to decide settlement amounts. Rev. Wolski no longer appears to be a member of that board. 

In Jan. 2003, Bishop Henry Mansell named Fr. Wolski to the @BuffaloDiocese child sex abuse REVIEW BOARD that oversees abuse allegations/settlements. Now Fr. Wolski is accused of child sex abuse. @WKBW pic.twitter.com/dXJYKJS2aQ

— Charlie Specht (@Charlie_Reports) May 31, 2018

The 7 Eyewitness News I-Team has spent months looking into dozens of claims of abuse and uncovered internal diocesan documents that point to a pattern of covering up claims at the very top. 

You can read more of I-Team Chief Investigator Charlie Specht's in-depth reporting here.