James H. Cotter
Ordained: 1950
In 2007, the Buffalo News reported that the Diocese of Buffalo transferred Father Cotter to San Diego, where he then allegedly molested a young boy. A lawsuit was filed in California and accused the Diocese of Buffalo of knowing that Cotter was a pedophile but choosing to transfer him to San Diego in 1978 as part of an arranged “early retirement.” The Diocese of Buffalo has denied knowing of prior accusations against Cotter and stated that they first learned of an accusation against the priest in the mid-1990s.
Father Cotter's Assignments
| Placement | City/State | Date(s) |
|---|---|---|
| St. Mary's Parish | Little Valley, NY | 1951 |
| St. Aloysius Gonzaga | Cheektowaga, NY | 1952..1955 |
| Most Precious Blood | Angola, NY | 1956..1958 |
| St. Cecelia Parish | Oakfield, NY | 1959..1965 |
| Our Lady of Lourdes Parish | Bemus Point, NY | 1965..1978 |
| Notre Dame High School - Teacher | Batavia, NY | Unknown |
| Retired - Moved to Diocese of San Diego | San Diego, CA | 1978 |
| Boy Scouts, Backup Chaplain | San Diego, CA | 1980's |
| Nazareth Catholic Elementary School - Counseling | San Diego, CA | 1980's |
