The Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau reports a complaint of sexual abuse of a minor involving suspended priest Lawrence Gregovich, deceased (2017). The allegation pertains to a period in the late-1970s to early-1980s. The Diocese has notified civil authorities of the allegation.
Lawrence Gregovich was born in 1944 and was ordained a priest in 1972 for the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau. He was placed on indefinite Administrative Leave by Bishop John J. Leibrecht on April 21, 1992, and subsequently suspended from priestly ministry or priestly function. Larry Gregovich died Feb. 2, 2017.
Pastoral appointments for the former Rev. Gregovich included:
1972, Associate Pastor, St. Mary Parish, Joplin, MO
1978, Associate Pastor, Immaculate Conception Parish, Springfield
1979, Pastor, Sacred Heart Parish, Verona, MO
1982, Pastor, Immaculate Conception Parish, New Madrid, MO
1983, Assistant Administrator, St. Henry Parish, Charleston (cont. w/New Madrid)
1985, Pastor, St. Ann Parish, Carthage, MO
1990, Pastor, St. Mary Parish, Joplin, MO
1992, Administrative leave
2017, Deceased
Assistance Provided to Victims
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. 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 listed below:
Judy St. John, LPC, NCC
(573) 587-3139 or vac1@dioscg.org
William J. Holtmeyer, Jr., MS, NCC, LPC, CEAP, Q-SAP
(417) 860-3858 or vac2@dioscg.org
The Safe Environment Procedures/Code of Conduct for the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau is available for review upon request or on the diocesan Website at www.dioscg.org under the Child and Youth Protection ministry tab.
