Father Robert Patrick Conlin
Diocese of Buffalo
Ordained: 1956
Died: 1997
Assigned as follows:
- 1957-1958 St. Isidore’s (East Otto, NY)
- 1958-1959 St. Anthony’s (Batavia, NY)
- 1959-1961 The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin (Buffalo, NY)
- 1961-1963 Our Lady of Loretto (Buffalo, NY)
- 1963-1966 St. Joseph’s (Niagara Falls, NY)
- 1966-1971 Our Lady of Loretto (Buffalo, NY)
- 1971-1977 St. Joseph’s (Albion, NY)
- 1977-1997 St. Mary’s (Pavilion, NY)
Summary of Abuse Allegations against Father Robert Patrick Conlin:
According to media reports, in March 2018, a man accused Father Robert Patrick Conlin of sexually abusing him when he was a 15-year old boy in 1980, at St. Mary’s basement rectory recreation room in Pavilion. The boy told his mother that evening when she saw him crying in his bed.
“She asked me what was wrong – what happened, and I said Father Conlin was touching me and she said what do you mean – and I said mom he was touching me everywhere and he wouldn’t stop,” recalled the man.
The mother is said to have reported the abuse to church officials. Father Conlin 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,” released in March 2018. The list includes deceased priests only if they have more than one allegation.
In August 2019, a suit was filed under the NY Child Victims Act. The suit claimed Father Conlin gained the victim’s trust by inviting him to play basketball and play games in the rectory, taking him to high school sporting events, and inviting him to attend mass. Father Conlin died in December 1997.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims of sexual abuse in the Diocese of Buffalo and throughout New York. The Diocese of Buffalo filed for federal bankruptcy protection in February 2020. Anyone sexually abused by a priest or employee of the Diocese of Buffalo may be entitled to file a claim against the Diocese in these bankruptcy proceedings, but very strict filing deadlines apply. Most victims of abuse in the Diocese of Buffalo will never be able to take action against the Diocese of Buffalo if they miss this bankruptcy filing deadline, so it is important that you contact us immediately to discuss your potential case.
Contact us at 888-283-9922 or [email protected] to discuss your legal options today.