Sexual abuse complaint filed against former Southeast Missouri priest

Monday, May 1, 2017

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - The Catholic Church has reported a complaint of sexual abuse of a minor involving a priest who served in Southeast Missouri.

The Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau reported a complaint of sexual abuse of a minor involving suspended priest Lawrence Gregovich, who died earlier this year. The allegation pertains to a period in the late-1970s to early-1980s. The Diocese has notified civil authorities of the allegation.

Gregovich, who was born in 1944, was ordained a priest in 1972 for the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau. He was placed on indefinite administrative leave by then- Bishop John J. Leibrecht on April 21, 1992, and subsequently suspended from priestly ministry or priestly function. Gregovich died Feb. 2.

According to a news release from the diocese, Gregovich's pastoral appointments included: 1972, associate pastor, St. Mary Parish, Joplin; 1978, associate pastor, Immaculate Conception Parish, Springfield; 1979, pastor, Sacred Heart Parish, Verona;

1982, pastor, Immaculate Conception Parish, New Madrid; 1983, assistant administrator, St. Henry Parish, Charleston (cont. with New Madrid); 1985, pastor, St. Ann Parish, Carthage; 1990, pastor, St. Mary Parish, Joplin; 1992, administrative leave.

"The Diocese will reach out to every person who has been the victim of sexual abuse as a minor by anyone acting in the name of the church, whether the abuse was recent or occurred many years in the past," the news release stated. "This outreach will include provision of counseling, spiritual assistance, support groups, and other social services agreed upon by the victim and the Diocese."

The assistance coordinator will aid in the immediate pastoral care of persons who claim to have been sexually abused as minors by clergy or other diocesan personnel.

Persons who wish to document an allegation may do so through our TIPS Web-based portal (see www.dioscg.org, look for "TIPS" link); or call the Missouri Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-392-3738; or telephone the Most Rev. Edward M. Rice, Bishop, (417) 866-0841; or Rev. Msgr. Thomas Reidy, chancellor, (417) 866-0841; or one of the diocesan victim assistance coordinators: Judy St. John, LPC, NCC, (573) 587-3139 or vac1@dioscg.org or William J. Holtmeyer, Jr., MS, NCC, LPC, CEAP, Q-SAP

(417) 860-3858 or vac2@dioscg.org.

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