Br. Robert “Edmund” Coakley, O.F.M.
Assignments Within the Archdiocese/Diocese(s) in New Jersey: Newark
Assignments:
Br. Robert “Edmund” Coakley, O.F.M., was a member of the Franciscan Friars. He also worked as a Scoutmaster in the Boy Scouts of America within the Archdiocese of Newark. In 1978, two brothers, aged 14 and 11, accused Br. Coakley of sexually abusing them while working as their Scoutmaster. In 1980, the family of the boys filed a lawsuit against Br. Coakley, the Boy Scouts of America, and the Archdiocese of Newark, but the case was later dismissed. Br. Coakely’s name appeared in the Perversion Files released by the Boy Scouts of America in 2012. Br. Coakley reportedly died in 1988.