Fr. Joseph Gerg
Archdiocese of Baltimore/Benedictines
Ordained: 1965
Removed: 2002
Assignment History:
- 1967-1969: St. Benedict’s Church (Catonsville, MD)
- 1969-1975: Penn State University (State College, PA)
- 1975-1995: St. Mary’s Church (St. Mary’s, PA)
- 1995-1997: Queen of Peace Church (Patton, PA)
Summary of Abuse Allegations Against Father Joseph Gerg
Fr. Joseph Gerg was a member of the Benedictine Oder and worked at various parishes in the Archdiocese of Baltimore. In 2002, Fr. Gerg was listed on the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s Credibly Accused of Sexual Abuse of Minors list. In April 2023, Maryland’s Attorney General released a report alleging 156 Catholic clergy members sexually abused at least 600 children over six decades. The report lists the names of the abusers, including Father Gerg.
According to the Attorney General’s report, in 1997, the Baltimore Archdiocese received an allegation from a woman that Gerg sexually abused her while he was assigned to St. Benedict’s in Baltimore between 1967 and 1972 when she was 13-17 years old. The woman stated that the abuse included kissing and fondling, and on one occasion, Gerg ejaculated while on top of the victim and then made her touch his penis. The victim kept detailed diaries in which she documented numerous encounters with Gerg. Gerg called the victim at her home frequently at night and would ask to come over. The sexual abuse occurred in her parents’ home in Baltimore County, Patapsco State Park in Baltimore County, and a park near Penn State University. The victim sent Gerg a letter in 1994 with a copy of a diary entry from 1969. The victim also stated she had reported the abuse to several individuals at the time of the abuse.
After reporting the abuse to the Archdiocese of Baltimore in 1997, the victim reported it to the Benedictine Order. Authorities were notified, and so was the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown in Pennsylvania, where Gerg was assigned. In addition, the archdiocese notified of Saint Vincent Archabbey, a Benedictine monastery in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. It wasn’t until 2002 that Gerg was removed from ministry. Along with Baltimore Archdiocese, Gerg was listed as credibly accused by the Saint Vincent Archabbey in 2018.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Archdiocese of Baltimore in Maryland. If you need a lawyer because you were sexually abused by a priest in Maryland, contact our office today. Our lawyers have decades of experience representing survivors of clergy sexual abuse nationwide. We can help. Contact us at 888-283-9922 or [email protected] to discuss your options today.