Father Robert K. Cooper
Archdiocese of New Orleans
Ordained: 1971
Retired: 1985
Dead: 1989
Assignment History:
- Our Lady of Prompt Succor-1979 (Chalmette, LA)
- Ascension of Our Lord-1982 (LaPlace, LA)
- Sacred Heart of Jesus-1984 (Norco, LA)
- St. Andrew the Apostle (New Orleans, LA)
- St. Angela Merici (Metairie, LA)
- St. Francis Cabrini (New Orleans, LA)
- St. James Major (New Orleans, LA)
- St. Philip Neri (Metairie, LA)
- St. John Vianney Prep (New Orleans, LA)
Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations against Father Robert Cooper:
In 2007, Fr. Robert Cooper was accused of sexually abusing an underage schoolboy at St. John Vianney Prep in New Orleans, Louisiana in the mid-1970s. Cooper was a school counselor and disciplinarian there. St. John Vianney Prep educated boys who were interested in joining the clergy.
According to media reports, Cooper sent sexually suggestive letters to the boy and several other students in the 1970s. During that time, the boy made a complaint to the priest at the school and Cooper was removed from the school, however, he was never reported to authorities nor listed as clergymen considered credibly accused of abuse.
In 2007, Cooper was accused of physical sexual abuse by one victim and amongst several for sexually inappropriate behavior towards them when they were students at St. John Vianney Prep in New Orleans, Louisiana, and the abuse occurred while they were attending there.
In April of 2020, the Archdiocese of New Orleans filed for bankruptcy protection. As part of its bankruptcy, the Archdiocese of New Orleans will be reviewing and paying claims for anyone sexually abused by diocesan priests and lay employees. This will likely include claims filed on behalf of anyone whose case may be beyond the statute of limitations.
In December of 2020, Fr. Robert Cooper’s name appeared publicly on the Archdiocese of New Orleans’ list of clergy credibly accused of sex abuse of minors.
Cooper died in 1989.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims of sexual abuse in the Archdiocese of New Orleans. The Archdiocese of New Orleans filed for federal bankruptcy protection in April 2020. Our lawyers are now offering free legal consultations to discuss your legal options as a survivor of sexual abuse by priests and other employees of the New Orleans Archdiocese. Very strict filing deadlines will soon be set by the Bankruptcy Court. Most victims of abuse will never be able to recover damages if they miss this deadline, so please contact us to discuss your case today.
Call us at 888-283-9922 or send an e-mail to [email protected].