Former Catholic Priest Jerry Howell Dies After Apparent Fall in Texas
Gerard Joseph “Jerry” Howell, a former New Orleans Catholic priest accused of sexually abusing numerous children, particularly within the local deaf community, has died at the age of 87 after an apparent fall at his Texas senior living residence.
Howell was found unresponsive at around 5 p.m. on September 8, 2026, after Austin police officers responded to a welfare check. Emergency medical personnel arrived at the scene, but he was pronounced dead.
Authorities said the incident was not being investigated as a homicide. The Austin medical examiner’s office was still determining the official cause of death.
Howell’s death has brought renewed attention to decades of allegations against him and questions surrounding the response of the New Orleans Catholic Archdiocese.
Abuse Allegations and Decades of Church Awareness
Howell’s case dates back decades and involved accusations of sexual abuse against children he encountered through his religious ministry, including members of the deaf community.
According to records, the New Orleans Archdiocese reported Howell to law enforcement in 1980 after becoming aware of abuse allegations. However, he was never criminally charged in connection with those accusations.
His case gained public attention in 1992 when a local television investigation exposed allegations involving several victims. Despite the public scrutiny, Howell remained connected to the Catholic Church.
Later records indicated that the Archdiocese knew of at least 24 alleged child victims. In 2010, Howell underwent psychological treatment, during which a psychologist reportedly classified him as high risk.
The allegations have remained part of a wider examination of how Catholic institutions handled clergy accused of sexual abuse.
Church Support Continued Despite Abuse Claims
Questions about Howell’s treatment by the Church continued long after the allegations became public.
Records indicate that the New Orleans Archdiocese provided financial support to Howell during his retirement. This reportedly included living expenses, insurance and a monthly stipend.
Those benefits continued until 2020, when a federal bankruptcy court halted payments following the Archdiocese’s bankruptcy proceedings related to clergy sexual abuse claims.
The Archdiocese later confirmed that Howell’s retirement benefits were not restarted after they were discontinued.
Howell’s name was also included on a church-managed list of clergy removed from ministry for abuse of a minor. Before his death, he was reportedly named in nine abuse-related claims filed as part of the Archdiocese’s bankruptcy proceedings.
Survivors and the New Orleans Abuse Settlement
Kathleen Austin, one of Howell’s outspoken survivors, said she felt relief after learning of his death.
Austin has previously spoken publicly about her allegations against Howell and the impact of the abuse on her childhood. Her experience was also featured in the 2025 documentary God As My Witness, which examined the New Orleans Catholic clergy abuse scandal.
The Archdiocese of New Orleans has agreed to a $305 million settlement involving approximately 740 people who filed claims related to clergy sexual abuse.
The settlement forms part of the institution’s bankruptcy proceedings, which followed years of allegations against Catholic clergy.
The case has also drawn attention to broader questions about accountability, institutional protection and the treatment of survivors of child sexual abuse.
