Fr. Gerard Joseph Howell
Archdiocese of New Orleans
Ordained: 1964
Removed: 1992
Assigned as Follows:
- 1964-1966 St. Lawrence the Martyr (Metairie, LA)
- 1966-1967 St. Henry’s (New Orleans, LA)
- 1967-1971 SS Peter and Paul (New Orleans, LA)
- 1971-1974 St. Ann National Shrine (New Orleans, LA)
- 1974-1977 Holy Trinity (New Orleans, LA)
- 1977-1978 Sick Leave
- 1978-1981 St. Francis de Sales Catholic Deaf Center (Baton Rouge, LA)
- 1981-1982 House of Affirmation (Whitinsville, MA)
- 1982- 1983 Our Lady of Prompt Succor (Westwego, LA)
- 1983-1986 Prince of Peace (Westwego, LA)
- 1986-1992 Absent on Leave
Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations against Fr. Gerard Howell:
Father Gerard Joseph “Jerry” Howell was first named as accused of sexual misconduct with his deceased brother, Father Rodney Howell. The allegations against them include molesting dozens of students at school for the deaf in New Orleans in the 1970s. Gerard Howell worked at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Deaf Center in Baton Rouge from 1978-1981. His name has been included on the Archdiocese of New Orleans list of credibly accused clergy members as of November 2018. The list notes that the allegation against Gerard Howell was received in 1978 of abuse in the 1960s and 1970s.
Per the previous list made by the diocese in 2016, Father Howell was removed from ministry in 1980 and sent to treatment in 1981.
However, Joseph Howell was then reassigned in 1982 to a parish in Westwego, Louisiana. According to the official Catholic Directory, Howell was then absent on leave from 1986-1992.
His name has also been included on the Baton Rouge diocese’s list in early 2019. It notes that the Diocese of Baton Rouge received an allegation against Joseph Howell in March of 2001 of abuse that occurred in the late 1970s. The list also reports that allegation stems from his time at St. Francis de Sales Deaf Center.
Joseph “Jerry” Howell was officially removed from public ministry in 1992.
According to reports, he was living in South Dakota monastery in 2003 and then moved to Texas where he currently resides as of 2019.
In April of 2020, the Archdiocese of New Orleans filed for bankruptcy protection. As part of its bankruptcy, the Archdiocese of New Orleans will be reviewing and paying claims for anyone sexually abused by diocesan priests and lay employees. This will likely include claims filed on behalf of anyone whose case may be beyond the statute of limitations.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims of sexual abuse in the Archdiocese of New Orleans. The Archdiocese of New Orleans filed for federal bankruptcy protection in April 2020. Our lawyers are now offering free legal consultations to discuss your legal options as a survivor of sexual abuse by priests and other employees of the New Orleans Archdiocese. Very strict filing deadlines will soon be set by the Bankruptcy Court. Most victims of abuse will never be able to recover damages if they miss this deadline, so please contact us to discuss your case today. Call us at 888-283-9922 or send an e-mail to [email protected]