George Parme

Ordained: 1948
Diocese: Diocese of Pittsburgh

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

The only information regarding an allegation against Father George Parme was found with documents detailing a civil lawsuit against the Diocese of Pittsburgh, Bishop Donald Wuerl and Cardinal Bevilacqua.  According to the lawsuit, the victim served as an altar boy at St. Aloysius.  In 1954, when the victim was approximately 13 years old, Parme fondled his genitals while he was getting dressed before mass in the sacristy. It was also alleged that abuse occurred in Parme’s car.  The abuse continued for one year.

The lawsuit contended:

“[O]n information and belief, Diocesan Defendants knew and/or had constructive knowledge of the sexual abuse of minors by a number of Diocesan priests, including Father Parme, and that such abusive behavior was a longstanding problem within the Diocese, having received actual notice of such abuse.”

On October 1, 2007, the victim signed a document releasing the Diocese, Wuerl, Bevilacqua, Bishop Paul Bradley and Bishop Zubik of all responsibility regarding the abuse. The Diocese agreed to pay a total amount of $1.25 Million to 31 plaintiffs in the lawsuit.

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.