The Reverend Stephen Bzdyra, accused of sexually molesting an altar boy during the 1980s in a lawsuit filed in July 2010, has been placed on administrative leave.
The Reverend Stephen Bzdyra, an active priest who is accused of sexually molesting, physically assaulting, and bribing a former altar boy primarily during the period from 1986-1990, has been placed on administrative leave by the Archdiocese of Hartford, a spokesman confirmed on July 9, 2010.
“A letter was sent yesterday by Archbishop Henry Mansell placing Father Bzdyra on administrative leave pending the completion of an investigation into the allegations,” said the Reverend John P. Gatzak, a spokesman for the Archdiocese of Hartford.
Bzdyra has been serving at Saint Augustine Church in Seymour, Connecticut. The misconduct alleged in the lawsuit, which was filed on July 7, 2010 by William Dotson of New Haven, primarily occurred between 1986 (when Dotson was age 10) and 1990 at Saint Francis Church in New Haven and Saint Hedwig Church in Naugatuck.
Gatzak said that Bzdyra is in Europe leading a scheduled pilgrimage. He said the archdiocese has been trying to get in touch with him, but so far had been unsuccessful.
The lawsuit claims that Bzdyra “repeatedly sexually molested William Dotson and forced himself onto William Dotson … (and) would physically assault and injure William Dotson.” The suit further claims Bzdyra “forced William Dotson into illegal drug use when the plaintiff was a minor and continuing after that time leading to frequent employment terminations.” Bzdyra may also have bribed Dotson with cash, liquor, two cars, and a washer and dryer and threatened to turn in Dotson’s single mother, who was on government assistance, to the Department of Children and Families if Dotson said anything about the abuse.
William Dotson never told anyone about the sexual abuse he says he suffered at the hands of the priest, but decided to come forward recently after the priest tried to “friend” his son on Facebook, Dotson’s lawyer said.
The lawsuit alleges Bzdyra whipped and raped Dotson, an altar boy, after catechism class when he was ten and molested him repeatedly in the rectory and church where Bzdyra served at the time. It accuses the priest of paying hush money, such as buying Dotson a washer and dryer and a car, and threatening to report Dotson’s mother to the welfare department for having too many jobs if he revealed the abuse, saying he would be taken away from his family.
Alexandra Reed writes for Connecticut personal injury law firm, Stratton Faxon. Contact Stratton Faxon to speak with a Connecticut accident lawyer about your personal injury, wrongful death, or Connecticut malpractice case. To learn more, visit Strattonfaxon.com.
