Father Robert Whipkey
Ordained: 1983
Assigned as follows:
- 1983-1984: St. John the Baptist (Boulder, CO)
- 1984-1987: Notre Dame (Denver, CO)
- 1988: Unknown
- 1989-1990: St. Jude (Lakewood, CO)
- 1990-1995: St. Andrew's (Yuma, CO)
- 1995-1999: St. Catherine of Siena (Denver, CO) ; Sacred Heart (Peetz, CO); Northeastern Junior
College (Sterling, CO) ; St. Anthony (Denver, CO) - 1999-2000: Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (Denver, CO) ; St. Catherine of Siena (Denver, CO); Sacred Heart (Peetz, CO); Northeastern Junior College (Sterling, CO)
- 2000-2003: St. Scholastica (Erie, CO); St. Theresa (Frederick, CO); St. Catherine of Siena (Denver, CO); Sacred Heart (Peetz, CO); Northeastern Junior College (Sterling, CO)
- 2003-2007: St. Scholastica, Erie, CO); St. Theresa (Frederick, CO)
- 2007-2021: Unknown
Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations against Father Robert Whipkey:
Fr. Robert Whipkey was ordained a priest in 1983, and served in multiple parishes in the Archdiocese of Denver. According to media reports, in October 2019, the Colorado Attorney General released a detailed report of a special investigation into the handling of child sexual abuse allegations by Colorado's three Catholic dioceses. For the first time, Fr. Whipkey was publicly identified as a priest with multiple documented reports of sexual abuse.
According to the documents reviewed by the investigators, in May 1998 the Archdiocese of Denver became aware that four sixth-grade boys from St. Anthony of Padua in Sterling were abused during a camping trip with Whipkey. At the time of the incident, Whipkey was also assigned to Sacred Heart in Peetz and St. Catherine of Siena in Iliff.
The boys each confirmed that Whipkey slept naked, and generally walked around naked for the entire trip. He also used the bathroom with the door open. Whipkey later admitted to his conduct but denied having a sexual motivation; he claimed that it was his normal routine because he grew up in a naked house. Years later, after he was arrested for indecent exposure, he admitted that he was sexually motivated when he was naked around the St. Anthony boys.
Whipkey remained in ministry unrestricted after this incident. He was referred for therapy, and despite the admonitions of his therapist that therapy alone would not prevent sexual abuse, there was no additional supervision or restrictions placed upon him.
In August 2007, Whipkey, who was then assigned to parishes in Mead and Erie, was arrested for indecent exposure. Police say he was arrested while jogging naked, claiming that clothing made him sweat too much. The Archdiocese placed him on leave indefinitely.
Whipkey's current status as a priest is unknown. He is alive and believed to be residing in the Longmont, Colorado, area. He is in his mid-60s.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Archdiocese of Denver in Colorado. If you need a lawyer because you were sexually abused by a priest in Colorado, contact our office today. Although many years have passed, those abused by Catholic clergy in the Archdiocese of Denver now have legal options, but filing deadlines will apply so do not delay in reaching out to us. Our lawyers have decades of experience representing survivors of clergy sexual abuse in Colorado and nationwide. We can help.
Contact us at 888-283-9922 or adam@adamhorowitzlaw.com to discuss your options today.