Lawrence T. Persico

Lawrence Thomas Persico (born November 21, 1950) is an American Catholic prelate who has served as Bishop of Erie since 2012.

Deciding to become a priest, he entered St. Joseph Hall Minor Seminary in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, graduating in 1969.

He continued his studies for the priesthood in 1973 at Saint Vincent Seminary in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, receiving a Master of Divinity degree in 1977.

After his 1977 ordination, the diocese assigned Persico as parochial vicar of Immaculate Conception Parish in Irwin, Pennsylvania from 1977 to 1980.

[6] In early 2016, a grand jury called by Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro began investigating sexual abuse by Catholic clergy in six Pennsylvania dioceses, including the Diocese of Greensburg.

The plaintiff had previously complained to the diocese about Reverend Daniel Kresinski, saying he repeatedly made unwanted sexual advances to her using obscene gestures.

In April 2018, the diocese published a list of 34 priests and 17 laypeople who had been "credibly accused" of sexually abusing children.

Father Poulson came forward in 2010 and said he becomes aroused around adolescent boys and he had a problem.” [17] Regarding the case of Reverend Sredzinski, page 510 of the grand jury report reads: "On April 12, 2002, a phone call was received by Father Lawrence Persico from a witness ("Witness #1"), the contents of which were provided to Statnick.

"[18]Page 509 of the grand jury report reads: "According to notes in Sredzinski's Diocesan file, on April 9, 2007, the mother of a classmates of Victim #1 placed a telephone call to Persico and informed him that her son had told her that when he was in 7th or 8th grade, Sredzinski abused Victim #1.

"[18]James Faluszczak claims that he attempted to report Reverend Daniel J. Martin for sexual abuse, first to Trautman and then to Persico.