Assignment Record – Bro. Leo R. Labbe, S.C. aka Bro. Gerald

Summary of Case: A Brother of the New England Province of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart, Leo Labbe, S.C. was accused in 2002 of having sexually abused an 11-year-old boy at one of the order's schools, in 1960 or 1961. At the time of the alleged abuse Labbe was known as Bro. Gerald. Labbe denied the accusation. He placed himself on leave when the allegation surfaced; the case was settled in 2004. Labbe has held a number of leadership position within the order, including school principal, Superior, and Provincial of the New England Province.

First Vows: 1959
Final Vows: 1965


   

Start Stop Parish/Assignment Town/Accusations State/Country Position Notes
August 25, 1957           Labbe entered the order.
1959           Labbe professed first vows.

1960

Boston archbishop was Richard James Cushing (1944-1970).

 1962 Sacred Heart Academy

Andover

• Labbe was accused in 2002 of having sexually abused an 11-year-old boy at Sacred Heart Academy in 1960 or 1961. Labbe denied the accusation.

MA teacher

Labbe was known as "Bro. Gerald" during the time of the alleged abuse.

 
Burlington diocese   St. Michael College Winooski VT student Labbe earned a bachelor's degree in English.
  1965         Labbe proessed final vows in 1965.

1962

Worcester bishop was Bernard Joseph Flanagan (1959-1983).

 1971 Notre Dame High School Fitchburg MA english teacher; Superior Appointed Superior of the Brothers of the Notre Dame High School faculty in June 1969.

1971

Providence bishop was Louis Edward Gelineau (1971-1997).

 1973 Sacred Heart Preparatory School Harrisville RI Principal Admitted child molester Bro. Guy Beaulieu, S.C. said in sworn testimony in 1993 that in 1971 he told Labbe , then the school's principal, that he had sexually abused a boy. Labbe has denied recalling or knowing of the abuse. Beaulieu was transferred to another school the following year.
Worcester diocese   Assumption College Worcester MA student Labbe earned a master's degree in Counseling.
San Francisco archdiocese   University of San Francisco San Francisco CA student Labbe earned a master's in school administration.

1972

Manchester bishop was

 1973 Bishop Guertin High School Manchester NH    

1974

Providence diocese

 1984 Mount St. Charles Academy Woonsocket RI    
1985 1991 New England Province, Brothers of the Sacred Heart   RI Provincial  

1991

Manchester bishop was Leo Edward O'Neil (1990-1997), followed by John Brendan McCormack (1998-2011).

 2004 Bishop Guertin High School Nashua NH Principal 1991-1992; Headmaster 1992-1999; President 1999-2003 Labbe placed himself on leave after the accusation surfaced that he had abused a boy in the early 1960s.
2004 2008   St. Albans England Foreign Mission Development Director  

2008

Providence bishop was Thomas Joseph Tobin (2005-).

   Provincial House Pascoag RI Director This is the province's retirement community.

 

Sources:

• Brother Leo Labbe Appointed Superior at Notre Dame High, Fitchburg Sentinel, June 18, 1969
• Leo Labbe elected Superior of N.E. Sacred Heart Brothers, The Telegraph, May 18, 1985
• Victim Considering Lawsuit against School, Religious Order, Associated Press State & Local Wire, March 28, 2002
• Bishop Guertin's Labbe Accused, on Leave, By J.M. Hirsch, Union Leader (Manchester NH), November 22, 2002
• Bishop Guertin President Accused, Union Leader (Manchester NH), November 23, 2002
• BG Head, Order Sued for Abuse, By Jonathan Van Fleet, Nashua Telegraph, November 23, 2002
• Religious Order That Owns Nashua School Sued, Associated Press State & Local Wire, February 12, 2003
• Bishop Guertin, Brothers Settle Sexual Abuse Lawsuit, Union Leader (Manchester NH), August 30, 2003
• Hudson Man Sues, Claiming Abuse at Bishop Guertin HS, By Kathryn Marchocki , Manchester Union Leader, October 2, 2003
• Bishop Guertin Settles Molestation Suits, Union Leader (Manchester NH), June 3, 2004
• The Rhode Island Catholic, April 23, 2009
• The missing names from Cardinal O’Malley’s list of accused clerics, The Boston Globe, Nov. 20, 2011



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This assignment record collates Labbe's 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 Oct. 23, 2012.