Former Plainview Priest, Other Former Area Priests Listed Among Accused Catholic Clergy Members

By Ellysa Harris
Plainview Herald
February 5, 2019

https://www.myplainview.com/news/article/Former-Plainview-priest-other-former-area-13592150.php

Catholic Diocese throughout the state released lists of clergy accused of sexual abuse of minors on Thursday and a former priest at a Plainview church made the list.

The Lubbock chapter of the Roman Catholic Diocese identified the late Robert Patrick Hoffman, who served at Sacred Heart Catholic Church from 1983 to 1986 as a clergy member with a credible allegation.

Hoffman died in 2005.

According to his obituary, which was published in the March 21, 2005 edition of the Amarillo Globe-News, he was ordained to priesthood on May 25, 1968 and served the Catholic Church until December 2000 when a bout with bone marrow cancer resulted in a request for medical retirement.

Hoffman was assigned to four different parishes, in addition to his stint in Plainview. The Diocese of Lubbock was formed June 17, 1983. Prior to that date, many of the parishes now within its geographic boundaries were a part of the Amarillo Diocese, according to news releases from both the Lubbock and Amarillo Catholic Dioceses. That's why Hoffman's name and the five parishes he served are on lists for both of the dioceses.

An official from the Lubbock Diocese told The Herald an allegation was made against Hoffman while he was serving Sacred Heart in Plainview. The church took action and the Lubbock Diocese stepped in and removed Hoffman from the church.

The Lubbock Diocese lists him as removed from the ministry in 1987.