Fr. Linus Hennessy
Born Michael P. 6/28/1918 in Ireland, where he was ordained. Taught at St. Bernardine College in England until 1951, then retreat ministry in Australia. First indexed in the 1955 U.S. Official Catholic Directory, so may have arrived in in the U.S. (Buffalo NY) in 1954. Had a radio ministry, “Comfort My People” on the Christian Broadcasting Network, per a 1979 news article. Accused publicly in 2015 of the sexual abuse of boy for five years, beginning 1973 when the boy was age 10. The abuse allegedly included oral sex, masturbation and attempted intercourse. His accuser said that Hennessy was a father figure who stepped in to help his single mom with her three children. Reportedly a lawsuit v the Buffalo diocese was rejected due to the statute of limitations, and the plaintiff rejected a $50K settlement offer. The accuser asked Pope Francis to investigate his case. Hennessy died 5/9/1983 in Buffalo. A lawsuit was filed in 8/2019 under the Child Victims Act. Included in 10/2021 on the Holy Name Province Franciscans’ list of those against whom there are substantiated allegations. Included in 9/2025 on the Diocese of Buffalo’s list of credibly accused.
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