Accused priests allowed to retire in facility next to high school

PITTSBURGH — The grand jury report on child sex abuse in the Catholic church is leading to new questions about where the accused clergy are living now.

One such place is St. John Vianney Manor in Pittsburgh's East Carnegie neighborhood.

At least one priest named in the report lives in the retirement community next to Bishop Canevin High School, and at least six "predator priests" were allowed to retire at the home for clergy who have stopped active work.

David Dzermejko, Leo Burchianti, Anthony Cipolla, Edward Kryston, Richard Terdine and William O'Malley all resided at St. John Vianney beginning in 1994.

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According to the grand jury report, even in retirement some of those priests continued their illegal activity.

Four years after being placed on administrative leave because of sexual abuse allegations and being sent to live at St. John Vianney, law enforcement officers executed a warrant of Dzermejko’s room at the residence and “seized child pornography located on his computer and also found firearms and illegal drugs,” according to the report.

Dzermejko also told police he had been "viewing child pornography for in excess of 10 years" and that he had "traveled to Thailand to have sexual encounters with teen boys."

Residents who live nearby are disgusted and wonder how much more will come to light in the coming days and months.

"It's like they have robbed children of their humanity, and to think that the hierarchy of the church was not only involved, but protected the priests, is just so incredible," said Bruce Wertz, of Crafton.

Cox Media Group