Rev. Dennis G. Riter– Assignment History

Summary of Case: Dennis G. Riter was ordained for the Buffalo diocese in 1971. Early on he assisted in Lackawanna, Springville, Dunkirk and Buffalo parishes, later pastoring in Buffalo, Batavia and Dunkirk. During the 1980s Riter worked as a hospital chaplain in Dunkirk and he was involved with the diocese's Spanish Apostolate. In the 2000s he was a vicar and a member of the diocesan council of priests.

On March 26, 2018 Riter was placed on leave after allegations surfaced that he had sexually abused two altar boys at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Buffalo, where he was then pastor. One of the alleged victims stated publicly that he was ages 10-13 when abused, and that he witnessed the abuse of the other boy, who has since died. He said Riter would invite him to play games with him in the rectory after mass, "and then the touching and all that would just start." He disclosed the alleged abuse to his aunt in 2007. The other boy's mother said her son told her at age 12 in 1997 that Riter tried to "play with" him underneath his robe on the altar during mass. She said she reported the abuse to a cousin who worked for the diocese, and that the cousin said "we'll look into it." The cousin claimed in 2018 that she did not recall the conversation. Riter's name was not included on the list released March 20, 2018 of priests removed, retired or having left ministry after allegations of sexual abused of a minor.

A diocesan spokesperson said the District Attorney had been notified.

Ordained: 1971

1971

Diocese of Buffalo

Bishop was James Aloysius McNulty (1963-1972), followed by Edward Dennis Head (1973-1995).

2/2, 3/3

1971-1972: Revs. Mark Friel, Dennis G. Riter.

1972-1974: Revs. Antal Olah-Toth, Adm., Dennis G. Riter.

1974-1977: Revs. W. Jerome Sullivan, Adm., Antal Olah-Toth, Dennis G. Riter.

2/2

Pastor was Rev. Norman A. Lux.

3/3

1981-1983: Rev. Msgr. Kenneth M. Menge; Rev. Timothy J. Kelley. In res., Rev. Dennis G. Riter.

1983-1984: Rev. Msgr. Kenneth M. Menge, Rev. Timothy J. Koester. In res., Rev. Dennis G. Riter.

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton had a school with 241-261 students.

Kelley's name was included on the diocese's list released March 20, 2018 of priests removed, retired or having left ministry after allegations of sexual abused of a minor.

3/3

Revs. James C. O'Connor. In res., Revs. Joseph M. Gariolo, C.R.S.P., Dennis Riter.

1994

Head was succeeded as Buffalo bishop by Henry Joseph Mansell (1995-2003).

Buffalo

• On March 26, 2018 allegations surfaced that Riter had sexually abused two altar boys at this parish in the late 1990s. One of them told reporters that he was ages 10-13 when abused and that it would occur after mass, when Riter would invite him to the rectory to play board games and Nintendo. He told his aunt in 2007, who took notes. He said he witnessed the abuse of the other boy, who had since died. That boy's mother stated that in 1997, when he was age 12, her son told her that Riter would try to "play with" him under his robe during mass. She said she reported it to a cousin, who worked for the diocese, and that the cousin said it would be looked into. In 2018 the cousin said she did not recall the conversation.

2002

Edward Urban Kmiec replaced Mansell as Buffalo bishop (2004-2012), followed by Richard Joseph Malone (2012-).

1/2

Assistant priest was Rev. Ivan R. Trujillo.

1/2

Assistant priest was Rev. Walter Werbicki (Canada).

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton had a CCD program.

Riter was placed on leave March 26, 2018, due to the allegations that he had sexually abused two altar boys in the 1990s.

Priests in a Parish: We use the following convention to show a priest's place among the clergy of a parish: 1/2 means that he is the first priest listed in the Official Catholic Directory (usually the pastor) and that there is a total of two priests at the parish. The shorthand 3/4 means that the priest is listed third on a four-priest roster. See our sample page from the Directory.

Source: Official Catholic Directory (Kenedy & Sons, 1969-2002).

• Diocese releases list of prists, Catholic Diocese of Buffalo, March 20, 2018
• Names of Buffalo Diocese Priests accused of abusing minors, by Aaron Besecker, The Buffalo News, March 20, 2018
• Dunkirk priest on leave amid investigation into abuse complaint, by Jay Tokasz, Buffalo News, March 26, 2018
• Dunkirk priest placed on leave following abuse accusation, WGRZ, March 26, 2018
• Dunkirk priest put on leave amid investigation into abuse complaint, WIVB, March 26, 2018
• I-Team: Former altar boy details alleged sexual contact by Buffalo Diocesan Priest, WKBW, March 26, 2018



Note: The Official Catholic Directory aims to report the whereabouts of Catholic priests in the United States on January 1 of the Directory's publication year. Our working assumption is that a priest listed in the Directory for a given year was at the same assignment for part of the previous year as well. However, Kenedy and Sons will sometimes accept updates well into the year of publication. Diocesan clergy records are rarely available to correct this information. The Directory is also sometimes misleading or wrong. We have tried to create an accurate assignment record, given the source materials and their limitations. Assignment records are a work in progress and we are always improving the records that we post. Please email us with new information and corrections.

This assignment record collates Riter's career history as it is represented in the Official Catholic Directory with the allegations against him, as reported in the media. We make no representation regarding the truth of the allegations we report, and we remind our readers that the U.S. legal system presumes that a person accused of or charged with a crime is innocent until proven guilty. Similarly, individuals who may be defendants in civil actions are presumed not to be liable for such claims unless a plaintiff proves otherwise. Admissions of guilt or liability are not typically a part of civil or private settlements. For more information, see our posting policy.

This assignment record was last updated on March 27, 2018.