Fr. Ferdinand B. Demsher

Ordained: 1946
Status: Accused

Died: 06/25/1983
Diocese: Diocese of Pittsburgh PA

First named publicly as accused in 8/14/2018 PA Grand Jury Report. At least four alleged victims. A man told the diocese 3/18/2002 that Demsher sexually abused him at age 13-14 during 1975-1976 at St. Mary of the Assumption. He was working at the parish for Demsher doing odd jobs. In 3/2012 the diocese received a report that Demsher molested a boy in the late-1970s to early-1980s. In 2/2015 a man told the diocese that he was abused by Demsher as a 14-year-old Central Catholic High School freshman. A 2/1/2016 memo in Demsher’s personnel file revealed that another person said Demsher fondled him when he was a 10- to 11-year-old altar boy at Resurrection parish. Another person alleged abuse by the priest as noted in a 5/2016 memo. He said the abuse occurred in the mid- to late-1960s. Demsher died in 1983. Included on the diocese’s list of accused.


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