Father George Pierce
Diocese of Greensburg
Ordination: 1959
Leave of Absence: 1997
Retired (in good standing): 1998
Laicized: 2005
Died: 2009
Assigned as follows:
- 1959 - 1960: St. Mar (Freeport, PA)
- 1960 - 1963: All Saints (Masontown, PA)
- 1963 - 1966: Immaculate Conception (Connessville, PA)
- 1966 - 1967: St. Mary and Holy Trinity (Ford City, PA)
- 1967 - 1968: Immaculate Conception (Irwin, PA)
- 1968 - 1972: St. Gertrude (McIntyre and its mission) St. Anthony (Aultman, PA)
- 1972 - 1985: Holy Family (Seward and its mission: St. Mary, Bolivar and St. Mary, Florence, PA)
- 1985 - 1995: Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Leckrone, PA)
- 1995 - 1997: St. James (Maxwell, PA)
Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations against Fr. George Pierce:
Fr. George Pierce was ordained a priest in 1959, who served in multiple parishes in the Diocese of Greensburg. According to media reports, in 2018, he was first named publicly as accused in the PA Grand Jury report. It revealed the Diocese of Greensburg received the first allegation of sexual abuse against Father Pierce in 1997. The victim stated that the abuse began in 1968 when she was 12, and that it continued until she was approximately 20. A typical evening for the two included dinner, alcohol and sexual intercourse, which led her to believe that Pierce was her boyfriend, not an abuser. This abuse lasted even after Pierce transferred to Holy Family in 1972, stirring concern among parishioners of the victim's overnight stays at the rectory. Yet nothing was done despite the blatant red flags.
She also reported that Pierce was sexually abusing at least one other underage girl at Holy Family. She knew this because when she would go there to see him, he woudl have at least one other female around, and it made her jealous. When she was about 15 or 16 years old, the other female (whose age is not clear from the grand jury report) was in the car when Pierce picked up the victim for a visit. As they drove the other female home, she was forced to perform oral sex on the priest while the other female watched (or vice versa - there is a conflict in Diocese documents about what the woman reported in her statement).
When questioned later, Pierce admitted to some level of sexual contact with the victim, but not to the sexual intercourse. He was ordered to undergo an inpatient evaluation at Andos Center, a notorious treatment facility for pedophile priests. He was there from November 1997 to May 1998, at which time it was suggested he seek assignment in the Diocese of Erie. It does not appear that he was accepted into the Erie Diocese, and instead opted to retire in 1998.
In 2002, a man contacted the Diocese of Greensburg and reported that he was sexually abused by Pierce at St. Anthony and St. Gertrude from 1969-1972. According to the victim, he was 10 years old when he confided in Pierce that right before his 7th birthday the victim's brother and his friends gang raped him. In response, Pierce explained to the victim that in order for him to be saved and go to heaven, he must perform oral and anal sex with Pierce. The young boy believed him and did as his priest said from 1969 to 1972. It ended when Pierce was transferred to Holy Family.
Pierce was laicized in 2005, along with several other accused priests in the Diocese of Greensburg. By that time, he had relocated to Linesville, Pennsylvania.
Pierce died in 2009.
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 adam@adamhorowitzlaw.com to discuss your legal options today.