Fr. Gerard Joseph Howell

Diocese of Baton Rouge

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:

Fr. Gerard Howell was ordained a priest in 1964, and served in multiple parishes in the Diocese of Baton Rouge. According to media reports, in 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 Fr. 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 in 2019. In May of 2020, Howell filed a letter in federal court stating that he was on the verge of homelessness because the Archdiocese of New Orleans bankruptcy filing ordered an immediate end to payments for priests who had been credibly accused of child abuse. Gerard Howell's whereabouts are currently unknown.

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 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. Gerard Joseph Howell – Diocese of Baton Rouge