Father Kevin Howarth

Father Kevin Howarth was born in February 1937 and died in June 2000. He served most of his time in the Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst where he was ordained in 1963. Records indicate that he served in the following parishes within the Diocese:

  • Euroa;

  • Wangaratta;

  • Bright;

  • Corryong;

  • Wodonga;

  • Beechworth; and

  • Chiltern.

Between 1964 and 1974, he was an assistant priest in various parishes across Victoria and was on loan to the Diocese of Darwin between 1974 and 1979. He returned to the Diocese of Sandhurst in 1979 as a locum assistant priest and then parish priest in one parish, after which he was appointed parish priest in another parish between 1982 and 1984. Between 1984 and 1989, Father Howarth was appointed assistant priest in a different parish. Between January 1989 and January 1990, Father Howarth was appointed as an administrator of two parishes in the Diocese of Sandhurst and was then parish priest in two other parishes between January 1990 and April 1996. Due to the number of allegations made against Father Howarth over the years, he was eventually placed on administrative leave in 1996 and on restricted ministry duties in 1999.

Royal Commission records show that Father Howarth had been accused of sexual abuse on five occasions dating between 1981 to 1991. The accusations where made between 1984 to 2011. The Royal Commission also showed that in 2004 CCI (Catholic Church Insurance) had determined that the Diocese had knowledge of Father Howarth’s propensity to offend in early 1984. This was based on a complaint made by the parents of two victims to the bishop at the time, Bishop Noel Daly, and Bishop Daly’s decision to send Father Howarth to a counsellor.

Moody Law has in the past represented and is still representing clients who were parishioners of the Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst. We invite former victims to contact us to tell us confidentially what information they may have, and we will explain what options are available to help with these cases.

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