Buffalo diocese ends financial support for priest accused of possessing child sexual abuse material

The Diocese of Buffalo, New York, has ended financial support for a suspended priest accused of possessing and distributing child sexual abuse material.

Father Jeffrey Nowak was arrested by the FBI last week and remains incarcerated pending trial, according to a July 15 article from WGRZ 2 News, an NBC affiliate.

The diocese announced the decision in a July 15 statement addressing Father Nowak’s arrest and the federal allegations against him.

“In light of the abhorrent criminal conduct recently alleged by federal investigators,” the statement read, “the diocese is no longer providing any financial support to Rev. Nowak.”

Bishop Michael Fisher of Buffalo is also taking steps to petition the Vatican to dismiss Father Nowak from the clerical state.

Father Nowak was previously removed from active ministry in 2019 after numerous complaints led the diocese to find “clear evidence of inappropriate conduct” involving adults.

The diocese placed Father Nowak on indefinite leave and directed him to undergo professional counseling, which he repeatedly failed to do, according to the statement. He was formally removed as pastor of Our Lady Help of Christians in 2020.

Bishop Fisher had previously encouraged Father Nowak to voluntarily seek removal from the clerical state, but the diocese said it lacked grounds to petition the Vatican for his dismissal because he had not been accused of child sexual abuse or other criminal conduct.

Until the recent decision, Father Nowak had received what the diocese described as a “modest monthly stipend” in keeping with its obligations under canon law.