Fr. Lawrence C. Gross
Diocese of Harrisburg
Ordained: 1953
Died: 2009
Assigned as Follows:
- 1953-1954 Our Lady of Mount Carmel (Mount Carmel, PA)
- 1955-1957 Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Lebanon, PA)
- 1958-1959 St. Margaret Mary (Penbrook, PA)
- 1960-1962 Seven Sorrows Blessed Virgin Mary (Middletown, PA)
- 1963-1965 Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament (Harrisburg, PA)
- 1966-1970 St. Gregory the Great and Rector (Lebanon, PA)
- 1971-1986 St. Joseph (Lancaster, PA)
- 1987 St. John the Baptist (Mount Carmel, PA)
- 1988-1994 St. Joseph (Shamokin, PA)
- 1995 Corpus Christi Church (Chambersburg, PA)
- 1996-2002 St. Joseph Church (Danville, PA)
- 2000-2002 Chaplain at Geisinger Medical Center (Danville, PA)
- 2003-2008 St. Philip the Apostle Church (Lancaster, PA)
Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations against Father Lawrence C. Gross:
In February 2020, the Diocese of Harrisburg filed for bankruptcy protection. As part of its bankruptcy, the Diocese of Harrisburg will be reviewing and paying claims for anyone sexually abused by diocesan priests and lay employees. This will likely include claims filed on behalf of anyone whose case may be beyond the statute of limitations. Ahead of the grand jury report, the Diocese of Harrisburg released the names of 71 priests, seminarians and laypersons accused of sexually abusing children since 1941. After the report was released, the total was over 301 identified and accused priests in Pennsylvania alone.
One name that was made public for the first time from the proceedings was Father Lawrence C. Gross. The list that the Diocese of Harrisburg provided did not include any information about the number of victims who have come forward, the nature of the misconduct, or the timeframe that the alleged abuse occurred.
His case falls under the category of clergy for whom criminal or canonical proceedings were not undertaken or completed. This category contained the names of deceased clergy who served in the diocese and have been officially accused, but no proceedings have been undertaken (usually due to their death). In most of these cases, the cleric died before the conclusion of the proceedings, or before the allegations were received.
According to his obituary, Lawrence Gross died in March of 2009. He served in many parishes and assignments throughout Pennsylvania during his career. He also had a long career in Boy and Girl Scouting starting in 1939.
According to sources, the Diocese of Harrisburg agreed to settle the known claim against Father Gross in July of 2019. Lawrence Gross was accused of sexually abusing a minor female on approximately four different occasions, including in her own home in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The alleged abuse occured in 1983, when the victim was only 14-years-old. The settlement was reported to be in the low 6 figures.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims of sexual abuse in the Diocese of Harrisburg and throughout Pennsylvania. The Diocese of Harrisburg filed for federal bankruptcy protection in February 2020. Anyone sexually abused by a priest or employee of the Diocese of Harrisburg may be entitled to file a claim against the Diocese in these bankruptcy proceedings, but very strict filing deadlines apply. Most victims of abuse in the Diocese of Harrisburg will never be able to take action against the Diocese of Harrisburg if they miss this bankruptcy filing deadline, so it is important that you contact us immediately to discuss your potential case.
Contact us at 888-283-9922 or [email protected] to discuss your legal options today.