Diocese overreacted
Dear Editor: I’m writing in response to the article regarding the lawsuit against Rev. Greg Premoshis. I graduated from Geibel High School in 1993. Like many students, I sought out the classes Father Greg was teaching and often went to speak to him after class. He was always understanding and sympathetic and always made time for the students at Geibel. He was a constant source of support for many students during a time that is notoriously difficult for many.
I hold Father Greg in the highest regard, and I am appalled at the actions taken against him by the Diocese of Greensburg.
I can understand the action of placing him on leave pending an investigation, but I cannot understand barring him from public ministry for life when Father Greg has not even had his day in court. It seems like the Greensburg Diocese panicked because of a lawsuit and acted too quickly, and punished a man who obviously enjoyed his occupation and made a positive impact on so many students.
I am not professing Father Greg’s innocence or guilt, although it does seem a bit ridiculous to me that the person alleging abuse during high school later asked Father Greg to perform at his wedding. I believe Father Greg should have been treated more fairly and the diocesan review board should have had more of a backbone and delayed action until the courts reviewed the case.
Father Greg, I wish you nothing but the best. Know that there are many people out there who are grateful that you were a part of the Geibel experience.
Lori (Neel) Churby
Sunnyvale, CA
Hunts bad billboards
Dear Editor:
I am not the only citizen who is offended by PennDOT’s provocative billboards showing a state trooper in shades with the slogan, “Hunts Drunk Drivers for a Living.”
One billboard on Route 119 near the Route 30 entrance in Greensburg bothered somebody so much that he reacted by spray-painting the words, “Pig Oink Oink” across the unsmiling officer’s face.
No right-minded person wants to see a drunk-driver, or any motorist for that matter, harm an innocent or ram his vehicle into another. But the sight of that billboard is offensive.
It sounds like some snarling unfriendly bureaucrat in Harrisburg is using the shotgun approach to intimidate all motorists, regardless of whether or not they drink and drive. It’s just not friendly and it’s a stupid us-against-them, meaning police versus the average citizen, approach to law enforcement.
In Texas, the state highway department takes a different approach to highway safety.
In the Lone Star State, where I used to live and work, the highway department puts out messages that bring a smile and a good feeling to motorists. “Drive Friendly, the Texas Way,” is so much better than “Hunts Drunk Drivers for a Living.”
I don’t carry a can of spray paint in my car. But if I did, I don’t know if I could resist the temptation to blot out that offending state trooper’s face and message.
PennDOT should find the person who came up with that slogan, and demote or re-assign the offender. It would make me, my family and friends feel much better toward PennDOT and the police who patrol and sometimes over-patrol our highways.
Geno Laurenzi
Charleroi