Fr. Daniel Michael Drinan

Diocese of Baton Rouge (Claretians)

Ordained: 1977

Left Diocese of Baton Rouge: 1979

Removed from ministry: 2002

Expulsion: 2006

Laicized: 2014

Assigned as Follows:

Christ the King Parish and Student Center (Baton Rouge, LA)
Immaculate Heart of Mary (Martindale, TX)
St. John the Evangelist (San Marcos, TX)
Church of St. Michael (Uhland, TX)
Our Lady of Guadalupe Church (Chicago, IL)
St. Mary of Sorrows Church (Fairfax, VA)
Claretian Fathers Headquarters of U.S.A. Eastern Province (Oak Park, IL)
Claretians Incorporated (Springfield, MO)
Missouri State University (Springfield, MO)
Southwest Missouri State University (Springfield, MO)
The Nancy McGregor House (Springfield, MO)
Ridge House (Reno, NV)

Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations against Fr. Daniel Drinan:

Fr. Daniel Drinan was ordained a priest in 1977, and served in multiple parishes in the Diocese of Baton Rouge. According to media reports, in January of 2020, the Diocese of Baton Rouge identified Daniel Drinan as the subject of credible allegations of sexual abuse of one or more minors or vulnerable adults which allegedly occurred within the Diocese of Baton Rouge after its formation in 1961. The allegation made against him was noted to have been received on March 5, 2003. The alleged abuse was said to have occurred during the late 1970's when Drinan was assigned to Christ the King Parish and Student Center in Baton Rouge, LA. No further information was released about the gender/age of the victim or the number of people who have come forward. Fr. Drinan left Baton Rouge in 1979.

In 2002, a Texas family from the Martindale parish where Drinan served as pastor registered a complaint with the Austin Diocese that Drinan had engaged in inappropriate behavior with a minor. As a result of the incident, Drinan was charged with misdemeanor assault and ordered to pay a fine. Drinan was then removed from the Austin Diocese, and he returned to the Claretian headquarters in Chicago. In 2019, Daniel Drinan was listed on the Diocese of Austin's list of credibly accused clergy members.

According to media reports, in September 2012, Daniel Drinan was arrested at the Denver International Airport after several witnesses claimed that Drinan exposed himself and began masturbating while watching pornography during a flight. Drinan pleaded guilty to indecent exposure on a commercial aircraft and was sentenced to two years of probation.

Daniel Drinan currently resides in California.

Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Diocese of Baton Rouge in Louisiana. If you need a lawyer because you were sexually abused by a priest in Louisiana, contact our office today. Although many years have passed, those abused by Catholic clergy in the Diocese of Baton Rouge may now have legal options, but filing deadlines will apply so do not delay in reaching out to us. Our lawyers have decades of experience representing survivors of clergy sexual abuse in Louisiana and nationwide. We can help.

Fr. Daniel Michael Drinan – Diocese of Baton Rouge