Fr. Dennis G. Riter

Suspended 3/26/18, accused of abuse of two altar boys at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in the 1990s. One accuser said he was 10-13 when abused, and that he witnessed the abuse of the other boy, now deceased. Also, Riter would invite him to play games in the rectory after mass, then abuse him. He told his aunt in 2007; she took notes. 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. Also said she told a cousin who worked for the diocese, who said “we’ll look into it.” The cousin claimed in 2018 not to remember. A third alleged victim was discovered by a news outlet in 5/18. A former seminarian said that in 1992 he walked in on Riter sexually abusing a 6-year-old boy, and told Bishops Head and Grosz in a letter. He said they told him to keep it quiet. Per diocese in 6/18 claims unsubstantiated; Riter reinstated. New lawsuit 8/19 by first accuser under Child Victims Act. Riter died 2/8/20.