Father Howard F. Yeakle
Archdiocese of Baltimore
Ordained: 1951
Laicized: 1972
Died: 1988
Assignment History:
- 1951-1953: Augustine’s Church (Elkridge, MD)
- 1953-1955: Patrick’s Church (Baltimore, MD)
- 1955-1957: All Saints Church (Baltimore, MD)
- 1957-1961: Mildred Church (Gray Manor, MD) and St. Adrian Church (Inverness, MD)
- 1961-1969: Brigid Church (Baltimore, MD)
- 1970-1971 Augustine’s Church (Williamsport, MD) and St. Michael Church (Clear Springs, MD)
Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Father Howard F. Yeakle
Fr. Howard F. Yeakle was one of the 156 priests identified by the Maryland Attorney General as having been accused of sexually abusing minors during his tenure with the Archdiocese of Baltimore. According to the report, in 1997, Fr. Yeakle was accused of sexually abusing three brothers at St. Brigid Church. There is no report of the issue being addressed by the Archdiocese of Baltimore at that time. The accusations were brought forward again in 2002, detailing that their father had passed, and Fr. Yeakle began to act as a father figure to the victims.
In 2002, a victim contacted the Archdiocese with allegations against Fr. Yeakle and inquired whether anyone else had reported abuse by him. The victim attended the St. Brigid Church and School during the early 1960s when the abuse allegedly took place. The victim alleged that his own father was distant and that Fr. Yeakle became a father figure to him. During 1960 and 1961, the victim would spend nights at the rectory, sometimes with other boys and sometimes alone. Fr. Yeakle took the victim on overnight trips, vacations, and a trip to Florida, during which the victim remembers being given alcohol by Fr. Yeakle.
In 2018, a victim accused Fr. Yeakle of touching his penis while in a swimming pool locker room. The alleged abuse took place in 1970 or 1971 while Fr. Yeakle was assigned to St. Augustine’s Church, Williamsport, MD, and St. Michael Church, Clear Springs, MD. According to the Attorney General’s report, Fr. Yeakle died in 1988.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims of sexual abuse in the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Our lawyers are now offering free legal consultations to discuss a potential lawsuit and your other options as a survivor of sexual abuse by priests and other employees of the Baltimore Archdiocese. Your chance to pursue legal action may soon be over. Most victims of abuse will never be able to recover damages if they miss the temporary window to file a lawsuit, so please contact us to discuss your case today. Call us at 888-283-9922 or send an e-mail to [email protected].