Rev. Joseph P. Labbe

Summary of Case: Labbe's name appeared on a list of priests placed on leave in April, 2002 by the Cleveland diocese because of allegations of past abuse. One article said during 1980s several teenage boys accused him of sexually abusing them. Labbe denies charges. He was director of admissions at Borromeo Seminary College in Wickliffe (1981-91).

Ordained: 1975

     

Start Stop Assignment Town/Accusations State Position Notes

1975

Cleveland bishop was James Aloysius Hickey (1974-1980), followed by Anthony Michael Pilla (1980-2006)

1981 St. Joseph's Avon Lake OH

2/2

 

 Parish had a school with 383-344 students.
1981 1991 Borromeo College of Ohio Wickliffe OH Recruiter; Dean of Men  
1991 2002 Holy Angels Chagrin Falls (Bainbridge Township) OH 1/1 Holy Angels was a mission until 1995. Labbe was Administrator from 1991-1994, then pastor. The parish had a Catechesis/Religious programs with 340-875 students.

2002

Richard Gerard Lennon succeeded Pilla
(2006- )

2009 Administrative Leave • Labbe was suspended from ministry in April 2002 for past allegations of sexual abuse of teenage boys. (Plain Dealer [Cleveland, Ohio]
June 16, 2002) 		     


Source: Official Catholic Directory (New York: P.J. Kenedy and Sons, 1976-2009)

Priests in a Parish: We use the following convention to show a priest's place among the clergy of a parish: 1/2 means that he is the first priest listed in the Official Catholic Directory (usually the pastor) and that there is a total of two priests at the parish. The shorthand 3/4 means that the priest is listed third on a four-priest roster. See our sample page from the Directory.

Note: The Official Catholic Directory aims to report the whereabouts of Catholic priests in the United States on January 1 of the Directory's publication year. Our working assumption is that a priest listed in the Directory for a given year was at the same assignment for part of the previous year as well. However, Kenedy and Sons will sometimes accept updates well into the year of publication. Diocesan clergy records are rarely available to correct this information. The Directory is also sometimes misleading or wrong. We have tried to create an accurate assignment record, given the source materials and their limitations. Assignment records are a work in progress and we are always improving the records that we post. Please email us with new information and corrections.

This assignment record collates Laabbes career history as it is represented in the Official Catholic Directory with allegations as reported in the media. We make no representation regarding the truth of the allegation we report, and we remind our readers that the U.S. legal system presumes that a person accused of or charged with a crime is innocent until proven guilty. Similarly, individuals who may be defendants in civil actions are presumed not to be liable for such claims unless a plaintiff proves otherwise. Admissions of guilt or liability are not typically a part of civil or private settlements. For more information, see our posting policy.

This assignment record was last updated on Nov.12, 2009