A former Catholic priest and abuse survivor is calling on the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo to remove from his position a priest accused of sexual misconduct.

Fr. Joseph Gatto was placed on administrative leave from his position as rector of Christ the King Seminary in East Aurora after the abuse accusations came to light a few weeks ago.

Former priest James Faluszczak wants to see the change become permanent.

“He shouldn't be forming priests, he shouldn't be anywhere near the seminary, and I'd go as so far to say he should be nowhere near the people of God who are looking for spiritual guidance today," Faluszczak said.

Faluszczak believes Fr. Gatto’s removal is another attempt by the diocese to protect a priest accused of abuse.

"We have seen over the past few months in the Diocese of Buffalo how difficult it is to get the institutional church to willingly police itself or to communicate what it knows about perpetrators," he said.

Faluszczak presented what he says was more evidence of alleged sexual misconduct by Fr. Gatto.

"We have today sworn testimony about these matters against Joe Gatto that I have been aware of for 25 years,” he said. “We have today the statements on the record by two other victims.”

The diocese recently hired former FBI agent Stephen Halter to investigate clergy abuse within the church. But Robert Hoatson, leader of abuse victim assistance program Road to Recovery, has little faith the cases will be thoroughly investigated.

"We do not trust anybody who is on the payroll or in the decision-making venue of the church,” Hoatson said. “The church cannot police itself. You can hire a hundred FBI agents, it doesn't matter.”

Hoatson said he’s hopeful the federal investigation into the diocese may help shed more light on clergy sex abuse in Buffalo.

Gatto remains on administrative leave while the church investigates the allegations.