Father Duane Fimbel
Diocese of Buffalo
Ordained: 1957
Died: 2011
Assigned as follows:
- Sacred Heart (Portville, NY)
- Our Lady of Victory (Frewsburg, NY)
Summary of Abuse Allegations against Father Duane Fimbel:
Father Duane Fimbel, a Buffalo native, was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Buffalo in 1957. He was appointed pastor of Sacred Heart in June 1976. In December 1977, he was transferred to Frewsburg to become pastor of Our Lady of Victory. Throughout his career, he served in multiple parishes in 11 locations.
According to media reports, in August 2019, Father Fimbel was one of 14 priests accused in a lawsuit filed under the NY Child Victims Act as a sex abuser who had not been previously named by the diocese. He was accused of molesting a 14-year-old child from 1976 to 1977. At the time of the alleged abuse, he was serving as pastor of Sacred Heart in Portville. The allegations against Father Fimbel make him the third Cattaraugus County priest accused in recent years of abusing children while serving in the county. He died in 2011 at age 80.
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.