Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Fr. Lawrence Gibbs

This page outlines the documented assignments, credible allegations of child sexual abuse, and institutional actions involving Fr. Lawrence M. Gibbs, as part of the Injury Lawyer Team’s legal representation of survivors in Illinois clergy abuse cases.

• Primary Entity Name: Lawrence M. Gibbs
• Common Variations / Aliases: Father Lawrence Gibbs, Fr. Lawrence Gibbs, Lawrence Gibbs
• Role/Title at Time of Incident: Parish Priest, Campus Minister
• Current Status: Laicized

Public Identification and Clergy Status

Fr. Lawrence M. Gibbs was publicly identified as a credibly accused Catholic priest by Church authorities and government investigators following reviews of allegations of child sexual abuse connected to his ministry in Illinois. His name appears in official disclosures issued by the Diocese of Joliet and in the Illinois Attorney General’s statewide investigation into Catholic clergy abuse.

The Diocese of Joliet publicly listed Gibbs among clerics with credible allegations beginning in April 2006. His case was later included in the Illinois Attorney General’s 2023 report, which compiled allegations reviewed by dioceses across the state. Public records indicate that the allegations involve sexual abuse of minors during Gibbs’s ministry. Following internal review, he was removed from ministry and later laicized.

Entity that Listed Him: Diocese of Joliet; Illinois Attorney General’s Office

Reason for Listing: Credible allegations of child sexual abuse identified through diocesan review and included in the Illinois Attorney General’s clergy abuse report

Key Status Facts

• Ordination Year: 1973
• Years in Active Ministry: 1973–1992
• Locations Where He Served: Diocese of Joliet (Illinois)
• Reported Survivors: 13 (as noted in the Illinois Attorney General’s 2023 report)
• Restrictions: Placed on administrative leave and removed from active ministry
• Removal / Reassignment: Removed from ministry in 1992
• Laicization: Laicized by the Catholic Church in 2022
• Public Disclosure: Listed by the Diocese of Joliet on April 9, 2006; included in the Illinois Attorney General’s 2023 report
• Diocese Claim of First Report: 1993 (as summarized in the Illinois Attorney General’s report)

Assignment History

Primary Diocese: Diocese of Joliet (Illinois)

Public records and reporting document the following assignments held by Fr. Lawrence M. Gibbs. These assignments establish the institutional settings relevant to reported allegations.

Parish and Institutional Assignments:

• St. James the Apostle – Glen Ellyn, IL (May 1973 – June 1977)
• Divine Savior – Downers Grove, IL (June 14, 1977 – September 1, 1977)
• Christ the King – Lombard, IL (September 1977 – July 1980)
• St. Joseph – Lockport, IL (July 1980 – September 1982)
• St. Mary Immaculate – Plainfield, IL (September 1982 – June 1986)
• St. Joseph – Rockdale, IL (June 1986 – June 1991)
• Holy Cross – Joliet, IL (January 1988 – June 1988)
• Sts. Peter and Paul – Naperville, IL (June 1991 – 1992)

Non-Church / Institutional Assignments:

• Joliet Junior College – Joliet, IL
• North Central College – Naperville, IL
• Elmhurst College – Elmhurst, IL

The Diocese of Joliet has not released a complete personnel file for Gibbs. Available information is drawn from public disclosures, court filings, and investigative reporting.

Known Allegations

Fr. Lawrence M. Gibbs has been the subject of multiple allegations of sexual abuse involving minors, connected to his parish and ministry assignments within the Diocese of Joliet. According to Church disclosures, survivor reports, civil court filings, and the Illinois Attorney General’s investigation, the alleged abuse occurred over an extended period while Gibbs held positions providing access to minors.

Public records summarize reported abuse occurring in the following timeframes and locations:

• 1969 & 1978: St. James the Apostle, Glen Ellyn, IL
• 1977: Divine Savior, Downers Grove, IL
• 1977–1980: Christ the King, Lombard, IL
• 1978–1980: Wonder Lake, IL (overnight stays referenced in public summaries)
• 1979–1987: St. Joseph, Lockport, IL

Civil complaints and contemporaneous reporting also describe allegations involving overnight retreats at a Wisconsin cabin in 1977, where minors were allegedly provided alcohol and exposed to sexually explicit material. These descriptions are drawn from civil lawsuits and media reports and are not findings of a criminal court.

One survivor alleged abuse beginning at approximately age 11 and continuing for several years. Church officials reviewed the allegations and deemed them credible, resulting in Gibbs’s inclusion on the Diocese of Joliet’s public list and later in the Illinois Attorney General’s 2023 report, which notes 13 reported survivors.

Multiple civil lawsuits were filed against Gibbs and the Diocese of Joliet in the 1990s and later years, including actions in Will County Circuit Court. Some cases were dismissed, while others were reportedly settled for undisclosed amounts. No criminal charges or convictions have been publicly reported in connection with these allegations.

Summary: Fr. Lawrence M. Gibbs was credibly accused of sexually abusing minors during his ministry in Illinois, with allegations spanning more than a decade and reviewed by Church authorities and the Illinois Attorney General.

Overseeing Authority During Key Periods: Bishop Romeo Blanchette and Bishop Joseph Imesch, Diocese of Joliet

Associated Organizations: Catholic parishes and campus ministry programs within the Diocese of Joliet

Institutional Actions and Review

Public disclosures, court filings, and investigative reporting indicate that Church authorities within the Diocese of Joliet were made aware of allegations involving Fr. Lawrence M. Gibbs years before his name was publicly disclosed. The Illinois Attorney General’s summary indicates a removal from ministry in 1992, while noting the diocese’s claim that its first formal report was received in 1993.

Gibbs was placed on administrative leave and removed from active ministry. Civil complaints allege that, prior to his removal, Church officials transferred Gibbs between parishes despite concerns. The Diocese of Joliet has publicly stated that its understanding of events differs from allegations raised in litigation and that it responded through internal review and legal proceedings.

Reporting also indicates that allegations were investigated by DuPage County law enforcement in the late 1970s, though no prosecution was reported. According to diocesan statements, Gibbs was sent to a therapeutic center after allegations were raised. There is no public record indicating that warnings were provided to receiving parishes during earlier transfers.

The Diocese of Joliet publicly listed Gibbs in April 2006 following a later institutional review. His inclusion appears on the Illinois list of accused Catholic clergy, reflecting retrospective disclosure rather than immediate public notification at the time allegations were first raised. Additional documents related to allegations were released publicly in 2014 in connection with civil litigation and reporting. Gibbs later left active priestly ministry, married, and was formally laicized in 2022, permanently removing him from clerical status.

Timeline

1973 — Ordained in the Diocese of Joliet

1969–1987 — Period during which alleged abuse reportedly occurred

1973–1992 — Served in parish and campus ministry assignments in Illinois

1979 — Allegations investigated by DuPage County authorities (no prosecution reported)

1992 — Removed from active ministry

1993 — Diocese claims first report of abuse received

April 9, 2006 — Publicly listed by the Diocese of Joliet

2014 — Documents related to allegations released publicly in connection with civil litigation

2022 — Laicized by the Catholic Church

2023 — Included in the Illinois Attorney General’s clergy abuse report

Speak With an Attorney

If you or someone you know was sexually abused by Fr. Lawrence M. Gibbs or any Catholic clergy member in Illinois, you may still have legal options. The Injury Lawyer Team represents survivors of clergy abuse throughout the state and provides confidential, survivor-focused legal guidance.

Contact us to schedule a private consultation with an Illinois clergy abuse attorney to learn more about your rights and possible next steps.

Sources and Public Records

This page is based on public records, Church disclosures, legal filings, and survivor reports:

• The Illinois Attorney General’s clergy abuse report entry for Lawrence M. Gibbs summarizes reported assignments, reported survivor count, and publicly listed status information.
• The BishopAccountability.org profile for Lawrence M. Gibbs which compiles public reporting and references regarding allegations and institutional actions.
• A CBS Chicago report on additional allegations and civil litigation involving Lawrence M. Gibbs, summarizing claims described in a lawsuit and related reporting.

No criminal conviction is implied unless explicitly stated in public court records or official Church reports.

All content undergoes thorough legal review by experienced attorneys, including Jonathan Rosenfeld. With 25 years of experience in personal injury law and over 100 years of combined legal expertise within our team, we ensure that every article is legally accurate, compliant, and reflects current legal standards.