JAMESTOWN – A report released by The Buffalo Catholic Diocese Tuesday revealed that two priests accused of sexually abusing children spent time at churches in Chautauqua County.
Bishop Malone, 14th Bishop of Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo, released a list of 42 priests accused of sexual abuse. Twenty-four of them are now deceased.
Father James H. Cotter, who was on the list, served at Our Lady of Lourdes in Bemus Point from 1966-1978. Cotter was also accused of abusing a child in San Diego in the early 1990’s, according to a report released by WKBW-TV.
Another name on that list was Father James A. Spielman, who headed St. Peter and Paul in Jamestown from 1987-1989.
“It’s very disturbing to myself and to the congregation,” said St. Peter and Paul Father Dennis Mende.
Mende said he didn’t know Spielman, who is accused of sexual abuse in 1993.
“If they have any concern, it should be expressed to myself as the pastor of the Parish,” said Mende.
It is important to note that no abuse has been documented at the two churches named in this article.
Both the Jamestown Police Department and the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office say they have not received any reports of any abuse from members of the local church community.
