Fr. Joseph Bissonette

Ordained: 1958
Status: Sued

Diocese: Diocese of Buffalo NY

Accused in a lawsuit filed under the NY Child Victims Act in 5/21 of sexually abusing a boy, age 7, repeatedly in 1977 at St. Bartholomew’s. Bissonette, however, was not assigned to St. Bartholomew’s until 1980. St. Bart’s pastor during the time of the alleged abuse was actually Joseph Friel, who has been accused of abuse of at least nine children. Bissonette was murdered in his rectory in 1987 by two teenage boys.


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