Aug 14, 2018 10 min read

The following is a list of those priests who served in local parishes in the Pittsburgh or Greensburg dioceses, and the local parishes in which they served. A brief summary of the accusations against them, as stated in the grand jury report, has been included. The full grand jury report that includes all of the names of alleged predator priests across all six dioceses can be found at www.heraldstandard.com:

Pittsburgh Diocese

n James R. Adams (died in 2011), St. Francis of Assisi, Finleyville, from May 1972-October 1977

Adams was accused of assaulting a young boy between the ages of 8 and 12 who was a member of the above parish. He was permanently removed from ministry in 2003.

n The Rev. John M. Bauer, pastor of St. Hugh, Carmichaels, from January 1999-present; pastor of Our Lady of Consolation, Carmichaels, June 2006-present.

In 2013, a diocesan assistance coordinator reported that Bauer and another priest engaged him and other boys in sexual conversations often and gave him alcohol. Bauer denied giving the boy alcohol and suggested the boy may have confused him with another priest who was assigned to the parish around the same time he was.

n Leo Burchianti (died in 2013), St. Philip Neri, Donora, from January 1979-November 1980.

Between 1967 and 1993, Burchianti is alleged to have inappropriate contact with at least eight boys. He withdrew from ministry in 2003.

n David F. Dzermejko, St. Jerome, Charleroi, from June 1991-October 1992; Mary, Mother of the Church, Charleroi, from October 1992-June 2009.

Files from the diocese show that Dzermejko had inappropriate contact with several young boys. He was laicized in 2015.

n John J. Huber (died 1998), St. Thomas Aquinas, California, Pa., from August 1985-August 1991.

Huber was accused of having sexual contact with a boy who told him he was molested by another priest, and then giving the boy $20.

n Bernard J. Kaczmarczyk, pastor of Holy Name of Mary, Donora, from March 1970-October 1992.

In 1994, diocese was informed of allegations Kaczmarczyk sexually abused at least three minors at the above church. Those claims were investigated and deemed credible. Kaczmarczyk was suspended in 1998. His date of death of is unknown.

n George Kurutz (died in 1977), Our Lady of Consolation, Nemacolin/St. Mary Parish, Crucible/Sacred Heart, Rices Landing, from April 1960-May 1961.

The diocese was notified in 1996 by a letter that Kurutz had molested a woman and her sister in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Kurutz resigned in 1976.

n William P. O’Malley III (died in 2008), St. Jerome, Charleroi, from June 1970-May 1973.

In 1991, the diocese fielded complaints that O’Malley was having young people spend too much time with him at the rectory of a church he served at in Meridian. During a 1993 interview, O’Malley admitted he received a backrub from a young man, but said he could not recall any sexual contact. Additionally allegations were made in 1997, with O’Malley admitting that he “probably” fondled a boy. He was withdrawn from active ministry in 2003.

n Raymond R. Rhoden (died in 2006) St. Francis of Assisi, Finleyville, July 1982-June 1989; Monongahela Valley Catholic High School, Monongahela, August 1988-June 1989; St. Philip Neri, Donora, October 1992; Our Lady of the Valley, Donora, October 1992-June 1997.

Parents of an adult male met with diocesan officials in 2002 to report that Rhoden sexually abused their son in 1976 and 1977. The abuse happened a number of times over a number of months.

Rhoden withdrew from active ministry in 2002.

n David Scharf, St. Hugh, Carmichaels, January 1999-December 1999.

An allegation was made in 2002 that Scharf had a sexual foot fetish that led him to massage the feet of men and boys.

Scharf’s last assignment is listed as the chaplain of Sisters of St. Joseph in Baden, but it lists his last day of service as “undetermined.”

n Richard Scherer (died in 2007), St. Charles, Donora, from June 1949-1954

Records indicated that the diocese received a complaint in 1991 that she was molested by Scherer while a student at St. Anne in Castle Shannon between 1957 and 1961.

Scherer retired in 1992.

n Raymond T. Schultz (died in 1999), St. Leonard, Monessen, from January 1949-June 1950.

An adult male reported in 2009 that he was sexually abuse by Schultz around 1978 while a student at Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic School in Beaver.

Schultz was last an administrator at the school between 1997 and 1999.

n Paul G. Spisak, St. Dominic, Donora, from November 1981-June 1990; St. Charles, Donora, from June 1988-June 1990.

In 1998, parish staff at St. Dominic reported Spisak to the diocese after finding pornographic magazines, internet material and tapes in his room that depicted sexual activity. There were also pictures of underage boys showing their buttocks and of Spisak pulling down his swim trunks and the boys’ pants.

Spisak was removed from ministry in 2003.

Greensburg Diocese

n Greg Flohr (died in 2004), All Saints, Masontown, from June 1964-June 1968; St. Cecelia, Grindstone, from January 1985-January 1992; Holy Rosary, Republic, from January 1992-January 1996.

In November 2004, an allegation of abuse was made against Flohr when the victim was 10 or 11 years old in 1967 or 1968 while Flohr was assigned to Immaculate Conception school in Irwin. Between 2005 and 2007, the diocese reimbursed the victim for more than $51,000 in therapy sessions, hospitalizations and medical treatment.

n Charles B. Guth (died in 1986), Holy Family, West Newton, from August 1944-November 1962.

In 2005, a victim reported abuse at the hands of Guth while he was assigned at Holy Family and he was in therapy because of that abuse.

n Francis Lesniak (died in 1991), Transfiguration Church, Mt. Pleasant, from May 1953-August 1954; St. Anne, Fellsburg, and Holy Cross, Webster, from September 1965-June 1969.

Multiple allegations of abuse were lodged against Lesniak allegedly occurring between the years of 1965 until his retirement in 1987.

n Henry J. Marcinek (died in 1987), Holy Name, Monessen, from July 1956-July 1957; SS Cyril and Mehodius, Fairchance, from July 1957-August 1958; Holy Rosary Church, Republic, from June 1960-August 1965; St. Mary’s Church, Uniontown, from August 1965-June 1967; Holy Rosary, Republic, from June 1970-May 1973; St. Pius X, Mt. Pleasant, from January 1982-January 1985.

In 2007, Marcinek was accused of sexual assault of a minor while he was at Holy Rosary School in 1972 when the victim was approximately 10 years old. According to the victim, Marcinek bestowed gifts on him and his family in an effort to gain the trust of the family. He also reported that the priest took him on vacations where they would share a bed and Marcinek would sexually abuse him.

n Fabian G. Oris (died in 2007), St. Mary, Brownsville, from August 1942-May 1953; St. Hedwig, Smock, from February 1955-March 1962; Holy Rosary, Republic, from June 1971-May 1973; St. Mary, Uniontown, from May 1973-February 1990.

Oris was accused of sexual abuse by a woman in 2002. She said the abuse started at St. Hedwig, but continued even after he was reassigned to another parish. According to the victim, she learned later that he not only abused her but her older sister as well. In 2014, another victim surfaced that said Oris kissed her on the mouth when she was a student at St. Mary in 1977 or 1978.

n George R. Pierce (died in 2009), All Saints, Masontown, from December 1960-February 1963; Immaculate Conception, Connellsville, from February 1963-June 1966; Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Leckrone, from June 1985-June 1995; St. James, Maxwell, from June 1995-May 1997.

An allegation against Pierce was lodged in 1997 claiming abuse in 1968 when the victim was just 12 years old and continued until she was 20. After a leave of absence in 1997, Pierce retired from ministry in 1998. An allegation from a second victim came about in 2002. The victim alleged that Pierce sexually abused him from 1969-1972.

n Gregory F. Premoshis, religion teacher at Geibel Catholic High School, Connellsville, and resided at Immaculate Conception, Connellsville, June 1980; religion teacher, Geibel Catholic High School, Connellsville and resided at St. Rita, Connellsville, June 1986; Visitation Church, Mt. Pleasant, October 1987; president of Geibel Catholic High School, Connellsville, July 1998.

In 2002, Premoshis was accused of abuse by a former Geibel student from 1980-1982. The victim said he would spend evenings with Premoshis at Immaculate Conception rectory “rough-housing” and engaging in “wrestling matches” that gave the priest an erection. Premoshis allegedly gave him gifts and would often take him on overnight trips. During one trip, he said he woke up to find the priest fondling his genitals. Premoshis went on administrative leave in March 2002 and then retired the following August.

n Thomas W. Rogers (died 2005), Immaculate Conception, Connellsville, from 1953-1954; St. John the Baptist, Scottdale, from July 1958-1960; St. Anne, Rostraver, from January 1992-November 1998.

In 2002, Rogers was informed he was no longer permitted to present himself publically as a priest stemming from an incident that occurred in 1962, where a man, later identified as Rogers, attempted to sexually assault a teenager who was hitch-hiking in New York.

n Leonard Sanesi (died in 1992), St. Rita, Connellsville, from June 1953-June 1955; St. Cajetan, Monessen, from June 1955-July 1958; Holy Family, West Newton, from June 1966-May 1974.

Sanesi was accused of sexual assault by two victims — one in 2002 for abuse that took place in the early 1960s and a second victim who came forward in 2013 for abuse that allegedly took place in 1962.

n Roger A. Sinclair, Immaculate Conception, Connellsville, from 1974-1977; St. Therese, Uniontown, from 1979-1980. Sinclair was accused of molesting two boys by their mothers in 1981.

He was placed on sick leave from June 1983-June 1984 to receive therapy for “emotional problems and then allowed to return as a priest “in good standing.” Third and fourth victims came forward in 2002. He resigned from the priesthood in 2005.

n Joseph L. Sredzinski (died 2015), Holy Rosary, Republic, from 1972-1974; St. Peter, Brownsville, from 1979-1984; St. Joseph, Everson, from June 1989-1999; St. Hubert, Pt. Marion, from June 1999-July 2007.

In 1991, Sredzinski was accused of inappropriate relations with several boys in Everson.

n John T. Sweeney, St. Hedwig, Smock, from 1980-1982; Holy Family, West Newton, from 2008-2016.

Sweeney is facing criminal charges for sexual assault that allegedly occurred between 1985 and 1998. He is awaiting trial in the Westmoreland County Court of Common Pleas.

n Joseph Anthony Tamilowski (deceased 1994), Transfiguration Church, Mt. Pleasant, from June 1954-1956; St. Hyacinth, Monessen, from February 1959-December 1960; Holy Spirit, Fayette City, from June 1967-November 1971; St. Hyacinth, Monessen, from August 1977-May 1984; St. Joseph, Uniontown, from May 1984-April 1994.

In 2002, Tamilowski was accused of sexual abuse by a victim who served as an altar boy in the 1960s. Tamilowski would go on to hold pastoral positions in four other churches before resigning in 1994 due to health reasons.