BishopAccountability.org
	Father Bob Caught in the Buff By Christine Hollister Farmer & Miner August 16, 2007 http://www.metrowestfyi.com/farmerminer/story_display.php?sid=7290 Frederick — The town of Frederick became the center of nationwide attention last week as details surfaced regarding the June 22 arrest of local priest Rev. Robert Whipkey. Whipkey faces an indecent exposure charge after an off-duty Frederick police officer spotted the priest of St. Theresa Catholic Church walking nude on the 500 block of Fifth Street at 4:35 a.m. Whipkey admitted to Officer Zacheria Hahn he had been jogging without clothing at the Frederick High School track early that morning. "I'm a heavy man and wearing clothing while running makes me sweat profusely," Whipkey told the officer. "I know what I did was wrong." According to the police report, Whipkey told Hahn this had been the first time he had jogged in public sans clothing, but Frederick Police Chief Gary Barbour said a similar incident might have occurred previously. "We have had reports generated by the news story that this is not the first time," he said. According to a statement made by the Archdiocese of Denver Thursday, Whipkey was placed on administrative leave Aug. 8 from his three parish assignments for an undetermined period of time. Barbour said if Whipkey is convicted of the misdemeanor indecent exposure charge, he would have to register as a sex offender. As a result of the June incident, reports were uncovered that Whipkey was placed under investigation eight years ago while he was pastor of St. Anthony's Parish in Sterling. The Archdiocese responded at that time to concerns of inappropriate personal behavior by Whipkey and it was brought to the attention of local authorities, but no charges were filed. "The Sterling Police Department has no records of the incident," Barbour said. "They seem to recall that there was something, but it may have been something that was handled outside of the department." The archdiocese reported that Whipkey's conduct in the Sterling incident did not involve any physical or sexual contact with another individual. Whipkey went through therapy for several years and was evaluated as part of that treatment. "Health care professionals did not conclude he was a danger to others or should be removed from the ministry, which was central in the archdiocese's decision at that time," the statement read. Whipkey is due in a Weld County court Sept. 14 for arraignment. To contact Farmer & Miner Editor Christine Hollister, call 720-284-7641 or e-mail chollister@metrowestnewspapers.com. You can also join her blog at miningcarbonvalley.blogspot.com
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.