Bethany Man Named to Diocese of Buffalo Sex Abuse Task Force

By Scott Desmit
Batavia News
January 23, 2019

http://www.thedailynewsonline.com/bdn01/bethany-man-named-to-diocese-of-buffalo-sex-abuse-task-force-20190123

A Bethany man who helped form Genesee Justice and whose work with what was known as ‘restorative justice’ earned him national attention has been named to a newly-formed adult sexual abuse and misconduct task force for the Diocese of Buffalo.

Dennis J. Wittman was one of five people named to the task force, which will review and recommend policies and procedures for “assessing and responding to allegations of sexual misconduct with adults by priests, deacons, religious and lay employees,” according to a news statement issued by the Diocese.

“The Task Force will ensure that the diocesan policies for adult abuse and misconduct complement the existing diocesan policy on child abuse,” the statement says. “In addition, the Task Force will review the investigation framework of sexual abuse allegations to ensure compliance with federal and state law, canon law, and the Diocese of Buffalo Code of Conduct to ensure the protection of all of God’s people.”

The Diocese, which includes Catholic churches in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties, has been under strain as it has dealt with a number of allegations in recent years about priests molesting children. In 2018, the Diocese released a list of 78 priests that had been accused and those where allegations were substantiated.

Wittman, of Francis Road, was serving as town of Bethany supervisor in 1981 when he was asked to help form what is now known as Genesee Justice.

At the time it was known as Community Service/Victim Assistance.

Wittman served for more than 25 years, seeing the program grow and gaining national attention for his efforts at restorative justice, which focuses on rehabilitating offenders through reconciliation with the victims and the community.

He worked with victims of serious crimes and intensely on both serious and violent cases. Wittman holds a bachelor’s degree from SUNY Buffalo and a master’s from the University of Rochester in Community Services/Social Work.

Other task force members are: Patricia Brunsing, who with her husband operates assisted living residences in New York and Ohio; Ellen J. Christensen, a sexologist in Buffalo; Maureen Pratt, a minister and co-chair of Respect Life Committee and Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Chapel at Christ the King Church in Snyder; and James N. Schmit, a retired attorney who specialized in gender discrimination and sexual harassment cases.