Father Robert Ours
Diocese of Syracuse
Ordained: 1980
Removed: 2004
Assigned as follows:
- 1981 St. Peter (Utica, NY)
- 1982 – 1986 St. Vincent de Paul (Binghamton, NY)
- 1987 St. John the Evangelist (Binghamton, NY)
- 1988 – 1998 Our Lady of Good Counsel (Endicott, NY)
- 1990 – 2011 Seton Catholic Central High School (Binghamton, NY)
- 1996 – 2012 Special assignment
- 1999 – 2004 St. Patrick (Binghamton, NY)
- 2005 – 2006 St. Rita (Chenango Forks, NY)
- 2007 – 2010 St. Christopher (Binghamton, NY)
- 2010 – 2012 St. Joseph (Endicott, NY)
Summary of Abuse Allegations Against Father Robert Ours:
According to media reports, in May 2014, Father Robert Ours was arrested and criminally charged with possession of child pornography. The Diocese of Syracuse had reported the allegations to the DA’s office a few months prior.
In August 2014, Father Ours pleaded guilty to six counts of possessing violent child sexual images. The victims were under 16 years old. He received 10 years probation, and was ordered to register as a sex offender.
Father Ours retired in 2012 and was living at a home for retired priests. He was not in active ministry after leaving for unrelated personal reasons. The Diocese of Syracuse denied any previous allegations against him.
In June 2017, Father Ours was accused in a lawsuit of abusing a boy decades earlier, while a deacon, before he was ordained a priest. In a 2021 lawsuit, Robert Ours is accused of fondling a boy multiple times in the 1980’s while inside the confessional at St. Vince de Paul. A 2017 federal lawsuit filed in Connecticut names Robert Ours as a perpetrator of abuse while he was still a deacon and soon-to-be priest.
Father Ours’ name appeared publicly on the Diocese of Syracuse’s list of clergy credibly accused of sexual abuse of minors, published in December 2018.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Diocese of Syracuse in New York. The Diocese of Syracuse filed for federal bankruptcy protection in June 2020. Anyone sexually abused by a priest or employee of the Diocese of Syracuse 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 Syracuse will never be able to take any legal action if they miss this bankruptcy filing deadline, so it is important that you contact us immediately to discuss your potential case. Our lawyers have decades of experience representing survivors of clergy sexual abuse in New York and nationwide. We can help.
Contact us at 888-283-9922 or [email protected] to discuss your options today.