Suffolk County priest leaves ministry as Diocese of Rockville Centre investigates abuse claims

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A Suffolk County priest stepped away from the ministry after the Diocese of Rockville Centre received a letter last week alleging that he had abused a minor.

The Rev. William G. Breslawski was most recently the pastor of the Church of Saint Anthony of Padua, in Rocky Point, but previously served as pastor of the Church of Our Lady of Peace, in Lynbrook, and was associate pastor of the Church of Saint Catherine of Sienna, in Franklin Square. He also worked at churches in Lindenhurst and Nesconset.

The Diocese of Rockville Centre received a letter on Sept. 25 from a relative of someone who was allegedly sexually abused as a minor by Breslawski in 1980, according to diocese spokesman Sean Dolan.

The claim appears to be the same as one made to the diocese in 2002 by a friend of an alleged victim who was then in middle school. At that time, the diocese encouraged the person making the claim to have the alleged victim contact the diocese directly to report the allegation, Dolan said. They did not, and the victim remains anonymous. The name and contact information of the person making the claim was provided to the Nassau and Suffolk district attorneys on June 5.

During its continuing investigation, the diocese discovered a second complaint, also made in 2002, by two people who stated that in 1984, Breslawski had an inappropriate interaction with them, according to Dolan, which included unwanted physical contact for one of the complainants. Both individuals were adults at the time.

“We are saddened by these allegations, and we will do everything we can to ensure that a fair and just

determination is made,” Dolan wrote in a statement. “During the pendency of this investigation, Msgr. Breslawski has agreed to step away from ministry.”

Breslawski did not return the Herald’s call for comment.