Fr. George Koychick – Diocese of Harrisburg

Fr. George Koychick - Diocese of Harrisburg

Ordained: 1949

Retired/Faculties suspended: 2003

Died: 2017

Assigned as follows:

St. Francis of Assisi (Harrisburg, PA)
Assumption BVM (Lebanon, PA)
Sacred Heart Mission (Lykens, PA)
Assumption BVM (McSherrystown, PA)
St. Joseph (Mechanicsburg, PA)
Our Lady of Mount Carmel (Mount Carmel, PA)
Holy Spirit (Palmyra, PA)
St. Joseph (York, PA) (1967-1981)
St. Patrick (York, PA)

Summary of Allegations against Fr. George Koychick:

In 2003, a woman sent an email from an anonymous account to the Diocese of Harrisburg and stated that Koychick "touched her sensually" when she was 13 or 14 in the 1970s. She reported that he rubbed multiple girls at St. Patrick Catholic Church in York, the report states. Ultimately, this led to additional allegations and investigation by the Diocese, who ultimately deemed the allegations credible.

According to media reports, documents in Koychick's personnel file indicated that when Koychick was asked if there was any truth to the allegations of sexually touching of minor girls, he replied, "Yes, it was when I was going through a touchy/feely time in my life."

Koychick was immediately suspended from active ministry but he was allowed to remain a retired priest; the Diocese of Harrisburg did not seek his removal from the priesthood (laicization).

In 2013, a woman reported to the diocese that Koychick sexually abused her from 1976 to 1979 when she was between 12 and 15 years old. He touched her breasts over her clothing and exposed himself to the child, according to the allegation.

In 2016, a woman came forward to report that Koychick also sexually abused her from 1976 to 1979. He touched her breasts and sunbathed naked, according to the report.

All the Diocese of Harrisburg stated in its release of information relating to Koychick was that he was the subject of "multiple allegations of sexual abuse of children" during his lifetime. No additional details about the reports/allegations were provided by the Diocese of Harrisburg.

Koychick died in May 2017. He is buried in a Diocese of Harrisburg cemetery.

Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims of sexual abuse in the Diocese of Harrisburg and throughout Pennsylvania. The Diocese of Harrisburg filed for federal bankruptcy protection in February 2020. Anyone sexually abused by a priest or employee of the Diocese of Harrisburg may be entitled to file a claim against the Diocese in these bankruptcy proceedings, but very strict filing deadlines apply. Most victims of abuse in the Diocese of Harrisburg will never be able to take action against the Diocese of Harrisburg if they miss this bankruptcy filing deadline, so it is important that you contact us immediately to discuss your potential case.

Fr. George Koychick – Diocese of Harrisburg