A Catholic priest at the University of Oxford has been forced to step down following substantiated allegations of grooming and misconduct involving a vulnerable student.
Father Damian Howard, who served as Senior Chaplain at the Oxford University Catholic Chaplaincy (OUCC) since 2023, left the organization after a student came forward with allegations of inappropriate sexual behavior.
Oxford Priest Misconduct Investigation Finds Allegations Substantiated
The student alleged that Howard initiated sexual contact while the student was under the influence of alcohol, encouraged him to sleep in his bed, and removed his clothing.
The complainant added that the priest, who described his role as pastoral, told him not to tell anyone about what was happening because it would “ruin” him.
Following an investigation by the Jesuits in Britain, the claims made by the student were substantiated and Howard was asked to resign, the OUCC confirmed in a statement.
Howard had previously served as Provincial Superior of Jesuits in Britain, the organization’s leading role, for six years before moving to the OUCC.
During that time, he made a personal apology to one of the victims of Peter Orr, a Jesuit priest alleged to have sexually abused boys between the 1960s and 2000s.
Pattern of Inappropriate Behavior Documented
The Oxford priest misconduct case began when Howard first met the student in 2023 and subsequently invited him on day trips and dinners.
The student stated: “He witnessed the implosion of my faith, my life, and my emotional state. Rather than offering the kind of disinterested support a chaplain would, he used me as a crutch for his loneliness.”
Following the investigation into the complaint, Howard was told to resign in August. However, neither the OUCC nor Jesuits in Britain publicly announced his departure or published details of his professional misconduct.
Jesuits in Britain Respond to Oxford Priest Misconduct
A spokesperson for Jesuits in Britain told the Daily Mail: “We take every complaint extremely seriously and respond with care and diligence. When this complaint was received, the safeguarding team of Jesuits in Britain carried out an investigation.”
“Based on their conclusions, immediate action was taken. Fr Damian Howard SJ was asked to step down on the grounds of professional misconduct and has not been in ministry since.”
The spokesperson outlined their process: “All complaints are dealt with by following a structured process designed to ensure fairness, protection and care. Initial assessment is followed by appropriate action, and in cases requiring independent oversight, matters are referred for external review.”
The safeguarding investigation included interviews with relevant parties and a careful examination of documented interactions between them.
“We are now awaiting the recommendations from the independent review and stand ready to take any further actions as required,” the statement continued.
“While we cannot comment on individual cases while the review is underway, we are confident that our procedures ensure complaints are addressed with integrity. We remain committed to transparency, accountability, and attending to the wellbeing of all involved.”
Independent Review Underway
Jesuit officials told the student in an October email they had not found concrete evidence of grooming. However, an independent review into the handling of the complaint is now underway by the Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency (CCSA).
Addressing the resignation, the OUCC stated Howard “was asked to step down from this role on the grounds of professional misconduct, following a complaint made by a student, which was investigated by the Jesuits in Britain and found to be substantiated.”
The case raises fresh questions about safeguarding procedures at Oxford University’s religious institutions and the Catholic Church’s handling of misconduct allegations involving vulnerable students.
The OUCC has been contacted for further comment.
