Father James Dowdy was ordained on May 17, 1969, and served in various parishes until October 1993 when he was placed on administrative leave amid allegations of sexual misconduct. The first report was raised in November 1991, in which Dowdy grabbed or wrestled with a boy but denied sexual touching. In September 1993, a man reported that Dowdy had sexually abused him between 1976 and 1984, kissing and touching him inappropriately. Dowdy was sent to counseling at St. Luke Institute, where he acknowledged additional instances of sexual abuse of a child, including fondling, mutual masturbation, touching, and kissing. In February 2015, another survivor reported that Dowdy tied a vestment rope around him and pressed his genitalia against him.
| Date | Position (If Available) | Church/Organization | Location (If Available) |
| 1968-1969 | Deacon | St. Gregory’s Parish | — |
| 1969 | — | St. John’s Parish, Hydes | Hydes, MD |
| 1969-1971 | — | St. Thomas Seminary | Kenmore, WA |
| 1971-1972 | Associate Pastor | Church of the Annunciation | — |
| 1972-1975 | Associate Pastor | Our Lady of Perpetual Help | Woodlawn, MD |
| 1975-1980 | Associate Pastor | St. Mark’s Parish | Catonsville, MD |
| 1980-1989 | Pastor | St. Jerome’s Parish | Baltimore, MD |
| 1990 | — | St. Matthew’s Parish | — |
| 1990-1991 | — | St. Patrick’s Parish | Havre de Grace, MD |
| 1991-1992 | Pastor | St. Elizabeth of Hungary | Baltimore, MD |
| 1992 | — | Church of the Annunciation | — |
| 1992-1993 | Associate Pastor | St. Joseph’s Parish | Cockeysville, MD |
