Father Gregory Premoshis
Diocese of Greensburg
Ordained: 1968
Retired: 2002
Administrative Leave: 2002
Assigned as follows:
- 1968-1980: St. Paul, (Greensburg, PA)
- 1969-1980: Greensburg Catholic High School
- 1980-1987: Geibel High School (Connellsville, PA)
- 1980-1986: Immaculate Conception, (Connellsville, PA)
- 1986-1987: St. Rita (Connellsville, PA)
- 1987-1998: Visitation (Mt. Pleasant, PA)
- 1998-2002: Geibel Catholic High School (Connellsville, PA)
- 1998-2002: St. Stanislaus (Calumet, PA)
Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations against Fr. Gregory Premoshis:
Fr. Gregory Premoshis was ordained a priest in 1968, who served in multiple parishes in the Diocese of Greensburg. According to media reports, he was first publicly identified in a 2002 lawsuit filed against the Diocese of Greensburg alleging sexual abuse of a 16 year old boy at Geibel High School. The lawsuit was filed shortly after his suspension from ministry relating to the same allegation, which was first brought to the Diocese of Greensburg in March 2002.
According to victim testimony, the abuse began in 1980 at the age of fifteen-year-old when he grew a paternal bond with Father Premoshis. According to the report, Premoshis confirmed buying the boy gifts, fancy dinners, providing him with alcohol and allowing the victim to drive his car. Reportedly, the two participated in countless sleepovers at the Immaculate Conception Rectory where Premoshis and the victim “wrestled”; often with Permoshis wearing nothing more than his underwear and a noticeable erection. According to the Grand Jury, Premoshis took the victim on private trips to Waynesboro, Virginia, Atlantic City, New Jersey, Dayton, Ohio, and Myrtle Beach where they would share a bed.
During these moments of privacy, the victim often awoke to Premoshis fondling his genitals. The victim confronted Premoshis on the touching, but Premoshis denied any recollection of the event. Once, the victim allegedly woke up in the same bed as Premoshis and found semen covering his body.
During a confrontation with a Bishop representative in 2002 Premoshis confirmed all allegations except ejaculating on the boy. Premoshis countered that perhaps he had experienced an arousing “wet dream” at the time. After this confrontation, Bishop Bosco dispatched a decree claiming an evaluation of Premoshis’ mental state at the Andos Center, which confirmed the Father’s inappropriate conduct with minors and violation of boundaries. According to Diocese files, the Andos Center concluded Premoshis would worsen if he didn’t receive psychotherapy treatments for his irregular treatment of adolescents.
According to media reports, in 2018, he was first named publicly as accused in the PA Grand Jury report. It revealed Bishop feared the scandal Premoshis would cause if he continued public ministry, but assured the Father that if he received treatment, the case would be “reviewed.” Bishop granted Premoshis 70% of his priestly benefits, $200 a month until the age of 65, as well as full health benefits due to his premature retirement from the cloth.
The Diocese of Greensburg revoked Premoshis’ public ministry in 2002. Father Premoshis is still living at 80 years-old and is believed to be residing in the Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania, area.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Diocese of Greensburg. If you need a lawyer because you were sexually abused by a priest in Pennsylvania, contact our office today. Although many years have passed, those abused by Catholic clergy in the Diocese of Greensburg may have legal options, but filing deadlines will apply so do not delay in reaching out to us.
Contact us at 888-283-9922 or [email protected] to discuss your legal options today.