Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Robert Chlopecki

This page outlines the assignments, credible allegations of child sexual abuse, and institutional actions involving Fr. Robert Chlopecki, as part of the Injury Lawyer Team’s unwavering commitment to survivors in Illinois clergy abuse cases.

• Primary Entity Name: Robert Chlopecki
• Common Variations / Aliases: Father Robert Chlopecki, Fr. Robert Chlopecki, Rev. Robert Chlopecki
• Role/Title at Time of Incident: Parish Priest
• Current Status: Removed from Ministry

Public Identification and Clergy Status

Fr. Robert Chlopecki was publicly identified as a credibly accused priest by multiple Church and government entities, including:

• The Catholic Diocese of Belleville
• The Illinois Attorney General’s Office, 2023 investigation, and public database

Public investigative records attribute child sexual abuse allegations to Chlopecki during the early 1980s, including a documented abuse entry in St. Clair County, Illinois. 

He was removed from parish leadership in April 1993 and placed on administrative leave while the Diocese reviewed allegations of sexual misconduct. 

Later, he was included on the Diocese of Belleville’s public list of clergy removed from ministry and also appeared in the Illinois Attorney General’s clergy abuse investigation materials.

• Entity that Listed Him: Catholic Diocese of Belleville, Illinois Attorney General’s Office
• Reason for Listing: Credible allegations of child sexual abuse, removal from ministry, later public disclosure through diocesan lists, and statewide investigative findings

Key Status Facts

Ordination Year: 1974

Primary Diocese: Diocese of Belleville, Illinois

Reported Survivors: 2

Date and Location Entry for Reported Abuse in Public Records: 1980–1981, St. Clair County, Illinois

Diocese Claim of First Report: 1993

Restrictions: Placed on administrative leave in April 1993, later treated as removed from ministry

Criminal Convictions: None publicly recorded for child sexual abuse

Public Disclosure: Placed on the Diocese of Belleville public list dated October 18, 2018, and included in the Illinois Attorney General clergy abuse investigation resources released in 2023

Assignment History

Primary Diocese: Diocese of Belleville

Parish Assignments (as documented in public reports):

• Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Herrin, Illinois (1974)
• St. Albert, Fairview Heights, Illinois (1975)
• St. Stephen, Caseyville, Illinois (1977–1978)
• Our Lady of Good Counsel, Renault, Illinois (1978–1979)
• St. Aloysius–Sacred Heart, Royalton–Ziegler, Illinois (1979–1982)
• St. Mary, Mound City, Illinois (1982–1987)
• St. Catherine, Grand Chain, Illinois (1982–1987)
• Our Lady of Fatima, Ullin, Illinois (1982–1987)
• St. Ann, Nashville, Illinois (1987–1993)

Known Allegations

Fr. Robert Chlopecki was accused of sexually abusing minors, with public investigative records listing a reported abuse entry of 1980–1981 in St. Clair County, Illinois. 

Contemporary reporting from 1993 described allegations of sexual misconduct said to have occurred more than ten years before his removal from St. Ann Parish in Nashville.

Because many clergy abuse reports emerge years after the underlying conduct, public sources describing Chlopecki’s case focus heavily on the Diocese’s 1993 response, including removing him from parish leadership and placing him on administrative leave pending review. 

Subsequent public disclosures, including the Illinois Attorney General’s database, provided a clearer summary of the reported timeframe and location of the abuse.

Summary: Fr. Robert Chlopecki was credibly accused of sexually abusing minors; public investigative records document reported abuse in 1980–1981 in St. Clair County, Illinois, and he was placed on administrative leave and removed from ministry in April 1993, later appearing in diocesan and state public disclosures.

Overseeing Authorities During Key Periods:

• Bishop Albert Rudolph Zuroweste, Diocese of Belleville (1948–1976)
• Bishop William Michael Cosgrove, Diocese of Belleville (1976–1981)
• Bishop John Nicholas Wurm, Diocese of Belleville (1981–1984)
• Bishop James Peter Keleher, Diocese of Belleville (1984–1993)

Institutional Actions and Review

Public reporting indicates that Chlopecki was removed from his pastorate at St. Ann in Nashville in late April 1993 and placed on administrative leave. Later reporting in July 1993 described a diocesan review process in which the bishop accepted recommendations that certain priests, including Chlopecki, would remain on leave indefinitely.

Decades later, the Diocese of Belleville publicly listed Chlopecki among clergy removed from ministry. The Illinois Attorney General’s investigation resources documented the reported abuse entry, the Diocese’s claimed first report year, and his removal from ministry. He was included on the list of credibly accused clergy in Illinois.

Timeline

1974 — Ordained for the Diocese of Belleville

1974 — Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Herrin, Illinois (assignment year listed in public records)

1975 — St. Albert, Fairview Heights, Illinois (assignment year listed in public records)

1977–1978 — St. Stephen, Caseyville, Illinois

1978–1979 — Our Lady of Good Counsel, Renault, Illinois

1979–1982 — St. Aloysius–Sacred Heart, Royalton–Ziegler, Illinois

1980–1981 — Reported abuse entry in public investigative records, St. Clair County, Illinois

1982–1987 — St. Mary, Mound City, Illinois

1982–1987 — St. Catherine, Grand Chain, Illinois

1982–1987 — Our Lady of Fatima, Ullin, Illinois

1987–1993 — St. Ann, Nashville, Illinois

April 25, 1993 — Removed from parish leadership and placed on administrative leave, as reported in diocesan removal reporting

July 24, 1993 — Diocese announced certain removed priests, including Chlopecki, would remain on leave indefinitely following review board recommendations

1993 — Diocese’s claim of the first report, as reflected in public investigative records

October 18, 2018 — Listed on the Diocese of Belleville public list of clergy removed from ministry

May 23, 2023 — Included in the Illinois Attorney General’s clergy abuse investigation resources and database

Speak With an Attorney

If you or someone you know was sexually abused by Fr. Robert Chlopecki or any Catholic clergy member in Illinois, you may still have legal options. The Injury Lawyer Team represents survivors of clergy abuse across the state.

Contact us to book a free and confidential consultation with an Illinois clergy abuse attorney. We are here to help you understand your rights and take legal action.

Sources

This page is based on public records, official Church disclosures, legal filings, and survivor reports, including the following:

• Illinois Attorney General, Abusive Clerics and Religious Brothers, Robert Chlopecki (Illinois assignments with dates, reported survivors, reported abuse date and location entry, diocese claimed first report year, removal status, public list date)
• St. Louis Post Dispatch, April 27, 1993, “5th Priest Accused of Misconduct; Belleville Diocese Removes Pastor from Nashville, Ill.” (removal from St. Ann in Nashville and administrative leave context)
• Belleville News Democrat, March 7, 2003, “Belleville Diocese Priests Ousted from Ministry” (lists April 25, 1993 removal date and assignment at time of removal)
• St. Louis Post Dispatch, July 24, 1993, “Four Suspended Priests Will Remain on Leave” (review board recommendation and indefinite leave announcement)
• Belleville News Democrat, April 24, 2007, “Priests Removed by the Diocese” (administrative leave list including April 25, 1993 removal entry for Chlopecki)
• Catholic Diocese of Belleville, Clergy Removed from Ministry list dated October 18, 2018 (public list placement)

No criminal conviction is implied unless explicitly stated in public court records or official Church reports.

All content undergoes thorough legal review by experienced attorneys, including Jonathan Rosenfeld. With 25 years of experience in personal injury law and over 100 years of combined legal expertise within our team, we ensure that every article is legally accurate, compliant, and reflects current legal standards.