Father Gerard Krebs (a/k/a Fr. Gerald Krebs)
Diocese of Erie
Ordained: 1963
Health Leave: 1990
Psychological Evaluation: 2002
Retired: 2004
Death: 2005
Assigned as follows:
- 1964 – 1970: Venango Christian High School (Oil City, PA)
- 1964 – 1970: St. Stephen’s (Oil City, PA)
- 1970 – 1970: Our Lady Queen of the Americas (Conneaut Lake, PA)
- 1970 – 1970: St. Stephen’s Rectory (Oil City, PA)
- 1970 – 1978: St. John the Baptist (Erie, PA)
- 1978 – 1983: Holy Cross Church (Brandy Camp, PA)
- 1983 – 1990: St. Patrick (Erie, PA)
- 1990 – 1992: St. Patrick (Erie, PA)
- 1992 – 2004: Diocesan Offices (Erie, PA)
- 1992 – 1994: Blessed Sacrament (Erie, PA)
- 1994 – 2004: St. Joseph/Bread of Life (Erie, PA)
- 1996 – 1996: Chaplain, Soldiers & Sailors Home (Erie, PA)
- 1996 – 1997: St. Patrick (Erie, PA)
- 1996 – 2003: Diocesan Offices (Erie, PA)
Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations against Fr. Gerald Krebs:
Fr. Gerald Krebs was ordained a priest in 1963, who served in multiple parishes in the Diocese of Erie. According to media reports, in 2018, the Grand Jury report revealed at least three allegations of sexual against Father Gerald Krebs. Most of the victims were former English students of Krebs at Venango Christian High School during the 1960s.
In 2002, the 1st victim to step forward reportedly did so in an email to Bishop Donald Trautman detailing the victim’s final stretch before graduation when he discovered he had impregnated his girlfriend. Lost and confused the victim turned to Krebs for guidance on how to handle the matter. Krebs reportedly enlightened the victim on his previous pre-med studies and “examined” the victim purportedly “ to tell if the victim could father a child.” Krebs examined the victim by penetrating the victim’s anus with a finger.
Krebs allegedly abused the 2nd victim sometime in the late 1960s. In 2002, the victim’s sister reportedly sent a letter to Father Tom Brown of St. Thomas, The Apostle in Corry, claiming her brother was “sexually molested” by Krebs. The victim’s sister added her brother was not the only boy to receiving inappropriate treatment from Krebs. Krebs had a history of taking male students to different spots around the parish to give them wine.
Following the two abuse allegations, Gerard Krebs underwent a psychological evaluation at St. Luke’s Institute in Silver Springs, Maryland, a notorious treatment facility for pedophile priests, in 2002. During his time at the facility, Krebs accepted his homosexual identity but denied the memory of the alleged sexual abuse.
Kreb’s only acknowledgment of the wrongdoing was due to his admittedly severe drinking habits at the time, and therefore he could not rule out the possibility that the events may have occurred. During his evaluation Krebs recalled victim 2 and confirmed they had shared a bed in a hotel room but denied any sexual contact with the boy.
In 2006, a 3rd victim reportedly wrote an email to the Bishop regarding his study at VCHS from 1964 to 1968. The boy was not Catholic, and during his junior year of high school the victim approached Krebs about converting to Catholicism.
According to victim account, Krebs led the victim on “a series of sexual rituals to prove my faith and the fact that I was not homosexual.” Along with his own story, the victim referenced a graduate of the VCHS 1969 class who described numerous encounters with Krebs of a similar nature but did not divulge details on the occurrences.
Gerard Krebs died in 2005 at the age of 67. At the time of his death, he was in good standing with the church.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Diocese of Erie. If you need a lawyer because you were sexually abused by a priest in Pennsylvania, contact our office today. Although many years have passed, those abused by Catholic clergy in the Diocese of Erie may have legal options, but filing deadlines will apply so please do not delay in reaching out to us.
Contact us at 888-283-9922 or [email protected] to discuss your options today.