A retired Buffalo priest has been suspended pending an abuse complaint.
"After receiving an abuse complaint against Father John J. Sardina, Bishop Richard J. Malone has placed Father Sardina on administrative leave as an investigation continues," the Diocese of Buffalo said in a statement on its website. "This administrative leave is for the purpose of investigation and does not imply any determination as to the truth or falsity of the complaint."
Sardina was ordained in 1960, diocesan directories show, and served in the following assignments: Unknown (1961), Nativity in Buffalo (1962-64), Our Lady of Pompeii in Lancaster (1965-67), Holy Cross in Buffalo (1968), Coronation in Buffalo (1969-77), Holy Cross in Buffalo (1978-80) and St. Anthony in Fredonia (1981-86).
In 1987, he is not listed as serving in a parish and his address is listed as 795 Main St., which is headquarters for the diocese.
From 1988 until his retirement in 2013, Sardina served as chaplain of Brothers of Mercy nursing home in Clarence. While he was at Brothers of Mercy, he was listed as "in residence" at Queen of Martyrs in Cheektowaga in 1988 and from 2003-13.
He currently resides at a retired priests' residence in Depew. A woman who answered the phone at the residence said Sardina declined to comment on the allegations.
