Gregory Uhrig

Ordained: 1973
Diocese: Diocese of Allentown

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

The Diocese of Allentown became aware of Father A. Gregory Uhrig’s sexual abuse of children by 2010.

On May 5, 2010, a 44-year-old female victim made a complaint to the Diocese of sexual abuse at the hands of Uhrig when she was 13-years-old and attended the seventh grade at St. Anthony school in Easton. Uhrig was assigned to St. Anthony at that time. The victim’s parents encouraged her involvement in the parish and were comfortable with her taking a job answering parish telephones.  While working afternoons in the rectory, the victim came to know Uhrig. Also, the victim’s parents would routinely invite priests to their home for dinner. Through working at the parish and frequenting family dinners, Uhrig became a close family friend.

Uhrig began to groom the victim by showing her attention and complimenting her.  She suffered from low self-esteem and expressed that to Uhrig.  Uhrig’s compliments built trust between them. Eventually, Uhrig initiated physical contact such as hugging, holding hands, and kissing the victim on the lips.  Uhrig eventually progressed to groping the victim’s breasts over her clothing. The victim would touch Uhrig’s leg and lap area over his clothing with her hands, taking notice that his penis would be erect.

The victim reported that these types of interactions occurred approximately twice a week for about four years. The incidents took place at the rectory and in Uhrig’s vehicle.  The victim was often in Uhrig’s vehicle as he would drive her home from working in the rectory or when she would accompany him on “family visits.”

When the victim reached her sophomore year, she realized her relationship with Uhrig was wrong and began to avoid Uhrig.  One month prior to her formal complaint, the victim contacted Father Anthony Mongillo.  Mongillo had been a long-time family friend.  Mongillo, who was a friend of Uhrig, offered no advice or instruction on how she should deal with her abuse.

The victim described the impact of the abuse in detail. Due to her victimization, she had suffered three failed marriages.  The victim was able to disclose the abuse to her mother, who was shocked and upset at the disclosure. However, the victim remained unable to tell her father of the abuse.

In 1995, Uhrig left the Diocese and was incardinated to the Diocese of Metuchen in New Jersey.  Following a report to that Diocese, he was placed on leave.  The Diocese appears to have reported the complaint to local law enforcement upon receipt of the complaint.  However, no prosecution was initiated because the statute of limitations had expired.

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.