Gregory F. Premoshis

Ordained: 1968
Diocese: Diocese of Greensburg

From Report I of the 40th Statewide Investigating Grand Jury for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania:

In March 2002, a victim alleged that Father Gregory Premoshis sexually abused him from 1980 to 1982 when he was a student at Geibel High School in Connellsville.  The victim explained that he had developed a close relationship with Premoshis because he did not have a good relationship with his father and that by the time he was approximately 16 or 17 years old, Premoshis had become his mentor and surrogate father. Premoshis bought the victim many gifts and dinners, supplied him with alcohol, and allowed him to borrow his car.

The victim reported that he spent many evenings at the Immaculate Conception rectory, during which he and Premoshis would engage in “rough-housing.” This entailed Premoshis fondling and wrestling with the victim while Premoshis in his underwear. Premoshis would often have an erection during these “wrestling matches.” Ultimately, the victim started staying overnight at the rectory and slept in the same bed as Premoshis. One morning, the victim awoke with “cream” on him, which he later realized was semen.

Premoshis also took the victim on numerous overnight trips and vacations, including to Waynesboro, Virginia, Atlantic City, New Jersey, Dayton, Ohio, and to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. During one trip, the victim awoke to find Premoshis fondling the victim’s genitals, at which point Premoshis jumped back into his own bed. When the victim asked Premoshis about what he was doing the previous night, Premoshis said he did not remember.

Upon being confronted by a Bishop’s representative on March 18, 2002, Premoshis admitted to giving gifts to the victim, buying him dinner, supplying him with alcohol, and loaning him his vehicle. He further admitted to wrestling with the victim and acknowledged becoming slightly aroused while doing so. He also confirmed having slept in the same bed with the victim on multiple occasions, both in the rectory and on trips. Premoshis denied, however, ejaculating on the victim, but explained he may have had a “wet dream” while they were sleeping in the same bed.

Bishop Anthony Bosco wrote a decree in July of 2002 regarding Premoshis, which stated the following:

“1.  Examination by doctors at the Anodos Center, experts in psychology, has indicated that Father Premoshis engaged in inappropriate boundary violations with a minor involving physical contact and providing alcohol.
2.  That behavior of the part of Father Premoshis has created disturbance including scandal if he would minister publicly.
3.  According to the experts, this behavior, which afflicts Father Premoshis, could grow worse if he doesn’t receive psychotherapy to address inappropriate boundaries in ministry especially in relationship with adolescents.”

The Diocese of Greensburg revoked Premoshis’s public ministry in this decree.  Bosco further stated, however, that if Premoshis accepted treatment, his “case would be reviewed.” In August of 2002, Bosco notified Premoshis that since he “retired early,” he would receive 70% of his full benefits, $200 per month for a living allotment until age 65, and full health benefits.

In 2002, the victim filed a lawsuit against the Diocese of Greensburg, Bishop Bosco, and Premoshis. Although the lawsuit was dismissed in 2003 due the expiration of the statute of limitations, the victim ultimately received a settlement of $5,000 plus 90 counseling sessions.

Additional information regarding the widespread sexual abuse of children within the Catholic Dioceses of Pennsylvania and the systemic cover up by senior church officials is compiled in the Pennsylvania Diocese Victim’s Report published by the Pennsylvania Attorney General following a two-year grand jury investigation.  A complete copy of the Report is available on the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s website.