Fr. William Lanphear (Oblates) – Diocese of Buffalo

| Oct 23, 2019 | Abuser Profiles, Catholic Church

Father William Lanphear

Diocese of Buffalo

Ordained: 1963

Died: 2008

Assigned as follows:

  • Queen of Martyrs (Buffalo, NY)
  • and St. Bernard (Buffalo, NY)
  • Holy Trinity (Dunkirk, NY)
  • DeSales Catholic High School (Lockport, NY)
  • University Parish of Eastern (Ypsilanti, MI)
  • St. Joseph Hospital (Ann Arbor, MI)

Summary of Abuse Allegations Against Father William Lanphear:

Father William Lanphear was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Buffalo. After serving in several parishes, in 1985, he became a member of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales and professed perpetual vows in 1990. He died in June 2008.

According to media reports, in the 1990s, a man reported an allegation of sexual abuse by Father Lanphear.  In 2018, he accepted a settlement from the Diocese of Buffalo for the abuse. In September 2019, in a lawsuit filed under the Child Victims Act, Father Lanphear was accused of sexually abusing a 14-year-old teenager from 1971 to 1974, at St. Bernard Parish.

His name was not on the Diocese of Buffalo’s list of priests with substantiated claims of sexual abuse of a minor. His name became public when a diocese document was leaked to a news station. It revealed that in June 2018, a Diocesan Review Board was investigating an allegation of sexual misconduct against him. The document included the names of 100 priests. According to diocesan officials, a priest’s name will be added to the list, only if a second credible allegation is reported.

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.