Father Basil Ormsby
Diocese of Buffalo
Ordained: 1942
Died: 1997
Elevated: 1988/1989
Assigned as follows:
- 1943 Missionary Apostolate (Mayville, NY)
- 1944-1946 St. Teresa of the Infant Jesus (Niagara Falls, NY)
- 1947-1949 St. Aloysius Gonzaga (Cheektowaga, NY)
- 1950 Our Lady Help of Christians Church (Cheektowaga, NY)
- 1951 St. Vincent de Paul (Buffalo, NY)
- 1952 Our Lady of the Rosary (Niagara Falls, NY)
- 1953-1956 Blessed Trinity (Buffalo, NY)
- 1957 Ascension (North Tonawanda, NY)
- 1958-1987 St. Teresa (Buffalo, NY)
Summary of Abuse Allegations against Father Basil Ormsby:
Father Basil Ormsby was the longtime pastor of St. Teresa’s in South Buffalo after working in ten parishes in his first 15 years as a priest. He retired in 1987, and the title of monsignor was bestowed on him in late 1988 or early 1989, after his retirement. He was listed “in residence” at Nativity in Orchard Park until his death in June 1997.
According to media reports, in February 2018, a man alleged he was sexually abused by Father Ormsby in 1960, as a 12-year-old boy, during a pastoral visit to his home after his father’s funeral. In early 2018, another man alleged that Father Ormsby had “touched and kissed” him when he was an altar boy in the late 1970s and early 1980s. He “never said” anything about the abuse, out of respect for his mother’s trust in the priest.
In March 2018, Father Ormsby’s name was included in the Diocese of Buffalo’s list of priests who “were removed from ministry, were retired, or left ministry after allegations of sexual abuse of a minor.” No information regarding the allegations was disclosed, however, the list includes deceased priests only if they have more than one allegation.
In August 2019, Father Ormsby was accused in a lawsuit filed under the NY Child Victims Act, of molesting a 9-year-old child, starting in 1950 through 1953 at Our Lady Help of Christians in Cheektowaga.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Diocese of Buffalo. If you need a lawyer because you were sexually abused by a priest in Buffalo, contact our office today. Although many years have passed, those abused by Catholic clergy in the Diocese of Buffalo now have legal options to recover damages due to a compensation fund created for victims. Call us at (888) 283-9922 or send an email to adam@adamhorowitzlaw.com to discuss your options today.