John Shramko grew up in a religious family, but wanted to be an engineer like his father. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering at Ohio University and moved to Atlanta in 1994. He became more and more involved in spiritual affairs and by 1996 he was attending Mass every day. Handsome and athletic, he seemed a good recruit, and several people urged him to join the priesthood. Finally, he broke up with his girlfriend and entered a seminary.

 

After completing a Spanish immersion course and pastoral internships in Mexico and Georgia, Shramko was ordained in June 2002, and was assigned to be parochial vicar at a church in Conyers, Georgia. "I love people and I love God," he said. "I can't wait to bring the two together." In 2006, Shramko began serving as the pastor at St. Patrick’s Church in Norcross in Gwinnett County.

 

Meanwhile, Abel Meija, his wife and children had joined St. Patrick’s in 2003. Soon after Shramko arrived at St. Patrick’s, Mrs Meija began spending more time at the church, and she obtained employment helping Father Shramko. She also stopped having sex with her husband.

 

According to a complaint filed by Abel Meija in Fulton County Superior Court on March 15, in May 2008, he and his three children arrived home to discover Father Shramko half naked and Mrs. Meija completely naked in the kitchen “locked in an intimate embrace.” Meija chased the priest out of the house, and Shramko fled in such haste that he left behind his shoes, his watch, his necklace and other personal belongings.

 

The Meijas divorced and Abel Meija was left to raise his three children alone. Now he is seeking financial compensation from Shramko, St. Patrick’s Church, and the local archdiocese to cover the therapy and counseling classes in which he was compelled to enroll his children after they witnessed the scene in the kitchen, as well as medical expenses caused by the pain and suffering of adultery and divorce. Shramko is accused of having exploited the trust of the family and breaching his duties as priest, while the church and archdiocese are accused of failing to properly supervise Father Shramko.

 

The defendants have until April 14 to respond to the summons.

-David Wallechinsky

           

Man Says He Caught Priest Half Naked With His Wife (by Jacqueline J. Holness, Courthouse News)

Abel Mejia vs. John Shramko and St. Patrick’s Church and Archdiocese of Atlanta (pdf)

Father John Shramko: Dissatisfied With Yuppie Life, He Discovers Priestly Vocation (by Erika Anderson, Georgia Bulletin)