Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Fr. Carroll Howlin

This page outlines the documented ministry assignments, credible allegations of child sexual abuse, and institutional actions involving Fr. Carroll Howlin, as part of the Injury Lawyer Team’s legal representation of survivors in Illinois clergy abuse cases.

• Primary Entity Name: Carroll D. Howlin
• Common Variations / Aliases: Father Carroll Howlin, Fr. Carroll Howlin, Carroll Howlin
• Role/Title at Time of Incident: Catholic Priest; Seminary Staff Member; Parish Priest; Mission and Youth Ministry Involvement
• Current Status: Deceased; permanently removed from ministry prior to death

Public Identification and Clergy Status

Fr. Carroll D. Howlin was publicly identified as a credibly accused Catholic priest by multiple Church authorities and government bodies following internal diocesan reviews, survivor reports, and later public disclosure efforts. His name appears on official lists released by diocesan authorities and in statewide investigative reporting documenting clergy sexual abuse in Illinois.

Church entities listed Fr. Howlin after multiple allegations of child sexual abuse involving minors were reviewed and classified as credible or substantiated under diocesan standards. Public records indicate the alleged abuse occurred over an extended period during his active ministry and involved church-related settings where he held positions of authority, including seminary environments, parish assignments, and mission-related activities.

His inclusion in the Illinois Attorney General’s clergy abuse investigation further formalized public disclosure and identified multiple reported survivors connected to his ministry in Illinois and Kentucky.

Entity that Listed Him: Diocese of Joliet (Illinois); Diocese of Lexington (Kentucky); Illinois Attorney General’s Office

Reason for Listing: Multiple credible and substantiated allegations of child sexual abuse involving minors, as documented through diocesan disclosures, civil litigation records, and public investigative reporting

Key Status Facts

• Ordination Year: 1961
• Years in Active Ministry: 1961–2002
• Locations Where He Served: Diocese of Joliet, Illinois; mission and ministry-related work in Kentucky
• Reported Survivors: 7 (per the Illinois Attorney General’s report)
• Restrictions: Removed from active ministry in 2002; later permanently restricted following canonical proceedings
• Removal / Status Change: Permanently removed from ministry after a canonical trial concluded in 2010
• Laicization: Not laicized; remained a priest under permanent restrictions
• Public Disclosure / Listing: Listed by the Diocese of Joliet in 2006; later by the Diocese of Lexington; included in the 2023 Illinois Attorney General clergy abuse report
• Died: 2015

Assignment History

Primary Diocese: Diocese of Joliet, Illinois

Fr. Carroll D. Howlin served in parish, seminary, and diocesan roles over several decades. Public records document the following assignments, which establish institutional settings relevant to reported allegations.

Parish and Institutional Assignments:

• St. Charles Borromeo Seminary — Joliet, Illinois (1960s–1970s)
• Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church — Naperville, Illinois (1970s)
• Holy Trinity Catholic Church — Westmont, Illinois (1970s)
• St. Mary Catholic Church — Paxton, Illinois (late 1970s)
• St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church — Paxton, Illinois (late 1970s–early 1980s)
• St. Joseph Catholic Church — Chebanse, Illinois (1980s)
• St. Pius X Catholic Church — Lombard, Illinois (1980s)
• St. Patrick Catholic Church — Manhattan, Illinois (1980s–1990s)
• St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church — Joliet, Illinois (1990s)
• Sacred Heart Catholic Church — Kankakee, Illinois (1990s)

Fr. Howlin also served as a Diocesan Consultor within the Diocese of Joliet.

Non-Church and Ministry-Related Assignments:

• Mission and ministry work in Kentucky, including Whitley City, from the late 1970s through the early 2000s
• Church-sponsored youth, retreat, and travel-related activities

Known Allegations

Fr. Carroll D. Howlin has been accused of sexually abusing minors in multiple incidents spanning several decades. According to diocesan disclosures, civil filings, investigative reporting, and the Illinois Attorney General’s findings, survivors reported abuse occurring in church-related settings where Fr. Howlin exercised authority and trust.

Public records describe alleged misconduct occurring primarily in Illinois from 1970 through the mid-1970s, including reports linked to St. Charles Borromeo Seminary and Will County, Illinois, with an additional allegation referenced in 1976. Other allegations are associated with Kentucky in the mid-to-late 1990s, including reports involving Whitley City, Kentucky.

Following internal review, Church authorities classified multiple allegations as credible or substantiated under diocesan standards. The Illinois Attorney General’s investigation documents seven reported survivors. Public reporting also indicates that concerns were raised years before Fr. Howlin was removed from ministry, while broader public disclosure occurred later through diocesan releases and the Attorney General’s review.

No public criminal conviction is documented. Church records confirm the allegations were considered sufficiently serious to warrant removal from ministry and permanent restrictions.

Summary: Fr. Carroll D. Howlin was credibly accused of sexually abusing minors in multiple incidents occurring in Illinois and Kentucky over several decades of ministry.

Overseeing Authorities: Bishops of the Diocese of Joliet; Bishops of the Diocese of Lexington

Legal and Advocacy Bodies Referenced: Illinois Attorney General’s Office; survivor advocacy organizations, including SNAP

Institutional Actions and Review

Public Church records and investigative reporting indicate diocesan authorities received information raising concerns about Fr. Howlin’s conduct by the early 1990s. One survivor later reported bringing concerns to diocesan leadership in 1993.

Despite these reports, Fr. Howlin continued in ministry for several years. Public reporting indicates he was sent for evaluation or treatment and later allowed to resume ministry-related activities. Questions were later raised in public accounts about whether information regarding prior concerns was fully shared during assignments outside Illinois.

In 2002, Fr. Howlin was removed from active ministry following further review and civil litigation alleging sexual abuse. Canonical proceedings concluded in 2010, resulting in permanent restrictions barring him from priestly ministry. Public disclosure occurred years later through diocesan releases and his inclusion on the list of accused clergy in Illinois following broader institutional review and the Illinois Attorney General’s investigation. Civil litigation also led to the later public release of Church personnel records.

Timeline

1961 — Ordained

1970–1976 — Alleged abuse reported in Illinois

1993 — Allegations reportedly raised to diocesan leadership

1995–1996 — Alleged abuse reported in Whitley City, Kentucky

2002 — Removed from ministry

2006 — Listed by the Diocese of Joliet

2010 — Canonical proceedings concluded

2015 — Died

2023 — Included in the Illinois Attorney General’s report

Speak With an Attorney

If you or someone you know was sexually abused by Fr. Carroll Howlin or any Catholic clergy member in Illinois, you may still have legal options. The Injury Lawyer Team represents survivors statewide.

You can request a confidential consultation with an experienced Illinois clergy abuse attorney to discuss your rights in a private and supportive setting.

Sources and Public Records

This page is based on public records, official Church disclosures, legal filings, and survivor reports, including the following:

• The Illinois Attorney General’s Report on Catholic Clergy Abuse, which lists Fr. Carroll D. Howlin and summarizes publicly reported details regarding assignments, reported survivors, and allegations referenced in the statewide investigation.
• The Diocese of Joliet’s list of clergy with substantiated allegations, where Fr. Howlin appears on the diocese’s official public disclosure list.
• The BishopAccountability.org case summary for Fr. Carroll Howlin, which compiles publicly available reporting, diocesan statements, and related records concerning allegations and institutional actions.

No criminal conviction is implied unless explicitly stated in public court records or official Church or government reports.

All content undergoes thorough legal review by experienced attorneys, including Jonathan Rosenfeld. With 25 years of experience in personal injury law and over 100 years of combined legal expertise within our team, we ensure that every article is legally accurate, compliant, and reflects current legal standards.