William Michael Burke
In 2003, Fr. William M. Burke was accused in a child sexual abuse lawsuit of sexually abusing a 14-year-old boy. Fr. Burke worked at St. Lawrence the Martyr in Sayville, New York when he allegedly sexually abused the young boy in approximately the early 1970s.
Fr. William M. Burke was ordained a Salesian Order priest in 1946 and worked at the following locations:
- 1947-1953: Queen of Peace, Kew Gardens, NY
- 1954-1957: Curé of Ars, St. John M. Vianney, Merrick, NY
- 1958-1960: St. Catherine of Sienna, Franklin Square, NY
- 1961: Absent on leave
- 1962: St. Patrick, Southold, NY
- 1963-1968: Absent on leave
- 1969: St. Martin, Amityville, NY
- 1970-1974: St. Lawrence the Martyr, Sayville, NY
- 1975-1978: St. Andrew, Sag Harbor, NY
- 1979-1982: St. Vincent de Paul, Elmont, NY
- 1983: Sick leave
- 1984-1988: St. John the Evangelist, Center Moriches, NY
- 1989: Unknown
- 1990-1995: Retired
Fr. William M. Burke died in a house fire on March 12, 1995.
(Source: Official Catholic Directory & www.bishop-accountability.org)