A Catholic priest at the University of Oxford has stepped down following allegations of grooming and misconduct made by a student.
Father Damian Howard, who was appointed Senior Chaplain at the Oxford University Catholic Chaplaincy (OUCC) in 2023, left the role after a student described as “vulnerable” came forward with claims of inappropriate sexual behaviour.
The student alleged that Howard initiated sexual contact while he was under the influence of alcohol, encouraged him to sleep in his bed, and removed his clothing. He also claimed that Howard urged him not to disclose what was happening, saying it would “ruin” him.
Following an investigation by Jesuits in Britain, the allegations were found to be substantiated, and Howard was asked to resign, the OUCC confirmed in a statement.
Before joining the OUCC, Howard served for six years as Provincial Superior of Jesuits in Britain, the most senior leadership role within the organisation. 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.
The student said he first met Howard in 2023 and was subsequently invited on day trips and to dinners. He 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.”
Howard was asked to resign in August following the investigation, though neither the OUCC nor Jesuits in Britain publicly announced his departure at the time, and no public notice of professional misconduct was issued.
In a statement to the Daily Mail, a spokesperson for Jesuits in Britain said the organisation takes all complaints seriously and that its safeguarding team carried out a thorough investigation, including interviews and a review of documented interactions.
“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 said, adding that an independent review is now under way.
Jesuit leaders later told the student that they had not found concrete evidence of “grooming,” but confirmed that the Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency is conducting an independent review into the handling of the complaint.
Addressing Howard’s resignation, the OUCC said he “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 chaplaincy has been contacted for further comment.
