NEW YORK
BishopAccountability.org
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
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