Fr. Lawrence Gibbs
Ordained: 1973
- 1974: Unknown
- 1975-1977: St. James, Glen Ellyn, IL (JOL)
- 1978-1980: Christ the King Church, Lombard, IL (JOL)
- 1981-1982: St. Joseph Church, Lockport, IL (JOL)
- 1983-1986: St. Mary Immaculate Church, Plainfield, IL (JOL)
- 1987-1991: St. Joseph Church, Rockdale, IL (JOL)
- 1992-1993: St. Peter and Paul, Naperville, IL (JOL)
- 1994: Absent on Leave (JOL)
- 1995-2019: Unknown
Before Fr. Gibbs was even ordained a priest, Fr. Gibbs had been labeled a “source of scandal” at parishes, and it is believed that even Bishop Blanchette’s own Seminary Board recommended that Gibbs not be ordained. Fr. Gibbs was, nonetheless, ordained in 1973. In 1979, police conducted an investigation into allegations that Fr. Gibbs had sexually abused children while assigned to Christ the King Catholic Church in Lombard, Illinois. Although the police found no evidence of wrongdoing, parishioners continued to send complaints regarding Fr. Gibbs’ conduct with boys. Bishop Imesch ultimately transferred Fr. Gibbs to St. Joseph Church in Lockport, where he was placed in charge of the altar boys training program. Fr. Gibbs was allowed to continue working until he was placed on leave in 1992. In early 1993, the first lawsuit was filed against Fr. Gibbs. The plaintiff alleged that Fr. Gibbs sexually abused him dozens of times for seven years beginning when he was 11 years old. Following the lawsuit, several victims came forward, saying they, too, had been sexually abused by Fr. Gibbs. In total, more than five lawsuits have been filed naming Fr. Gibbs, and some reports claim he may have abused more than 100 boys. Fr. Gibbs has been named on the Diocese of Joliet’s list of “Diocesan Priests with Credible Allegation(s) of Sexual Misconduct with Minors Made Against Them While Serving in the Diocese of Joliet” with “Substantiated Allegations.” According to the Diocese of Joliet, Fr. Gibbs was removed from ministry in 1992. Fr. Gibbs’ whereabouts, status as a priest and whether he has had access to children since 1992 are unknown.