Buffalo diocese substantiates misconduct allegations against 2 priests, clears third

The Diocese of Buffalo, New York, has released findings in three clergy misconduct cases, including a recommendation to expedite the removal of a suspended priest accused of possessing child sexual abuse material.

Buffalo Bishop Michael Fisher accepted the unanimous recommendations of the diocese’s Independent Review Board in all three cases, according to an Aug. 3 diocesan press release.

The board found the allegations against Father Jeffrey Nowak substantiated and recommended that he be removed from the clerical state “in an expedited manner.” The release noted that the board relied on the federal investigation rather than conducting a separate diocesan inquiry.

Father Nowak was arrested by the FBI in July after having been barred from active ministry since 2019 over inappropriate conduct involving adults, as Zeale News previously reported.

The findings also leave Father Patrick O’Keefe out of active ministry. The board substantiated allegations of sexual harassment involving adults and inappropriate workplace and ministerial conduct against Father O’Keefe, who has been suspended from active ministry since October 2025. 

In the third case, the board ultimately cleared Father Joseph Gatto of allegations that he had an inappropriate relationship with a teenager who died in 2017 or contributed to his death. Father Gatto had voluntarily stepped away from ministry in March during the investigation but according to the release, remains able to exercise his priestly ministry.

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