Fr. Joseph P. Friel

Accused in 1970 of repeatedly molesting a teen boy at a West Seneca church. When the boy and his parents reported abuse to their pastor, he accused them of lying and threatened to excommunicate them. Civil suit filed 1994; dropped due to SOL. Friel died in 1995. Included on 3/20/18 diocesan list, which includes deceased priests only if they have more than one allegation against them. By 2/19 at least eight alleged victims had come forward. Three people, including the man whose suit was dropped in 1994, filed suit under the Child Victims Act in 8/19, claiming Friel abused them in the 1960s. Suit filed by a woman in 1/20, claiming Friel sexually abused her as a child at St. Patrick’s, where he was assigned in the late 1970s-early ’80s. She said he threatened her not to tell, that if she did “the devil would get her.” New suit filed 8/1/20 by a man, age 52, claiming abuse as a teen by Friel, Rev. Louis Hendricks and a Franciscan,” Bro. Dale”.