A Catholic priest at the University of Oxford has stepped down following allegations of grooming and misconduct made by a student.
Father Damian Howard, appointed Senior Chaplain at the Oxford University Catholic Chaplaincy (OUCC) in 2023, left the organisation after a “vulnerable” student came forward with claims of inappropriate sexual behaviour. 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 student also claimed that Howard, who described his role as “pastoral,” instructed him not to tell anyone, warning it would “ruin” him.
Following an investigation by the Jesuits in Britain, the student’s allegations were found to be substantiated, and Howard was asked to resign, the OUCC confirmed.
Howard previously served as Provincial Superior of the Jesuits in Britain, the organisation’s leading role, for six years before his appointment at Oxford. During that time, he issued a personal apology to one of the victims of Peter Orr, a Jesuit priest accused of sexually abusing boys between the 1960s and 2000s.
Howard reportedly first met the student in 2023, inviting him on day trips and dinners. The student said, “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.”
Although Howard was asked to resign in August, this was not publicly announced by the OUCC or Jesuits in Britain at the time.
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 conducted 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.
All complaints are handled through a structured process to ensure fairness, protection, and care. This includes an initial assessment, followed by appropriate action, and referral for independent review when required.
In this case, the safeguarding investigation involved interviews with relevant parties and a review of documented interactions. We are now awaiting recommendations from the independent review and stand ready to act further as necessary.
While we cannot comment on individual cases during the review, we are confident that our procedures ensure complaints are addressed with integrity. We remain committed to transparency, accountability, and the wellbeing of all involved.”
In October, Jesuit leadership told the student that they had not found conclusive evidence of grooming, though an independent review by the Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency (CCSA) is ongoing.
The OUCC stated that 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 organisation has been contacted for further comment.
