Media Release – October 19, 2015

Road to Recovery
October 19, 2015

http://www.bishop-accountability.org/AbuseTracker/road-to-recovery.org

Archbishop Emeritus of Hartford, CT, and former Bishop of Fall River, MA, Daniel A. Cronin to be deposed on October 21, 2015, as part of a Massachusetts Superior Court Civil Complaint alleging negligent supervision by two clergy sexual abuse victims of Msgr. Maurice Souza of the Diocese of Fall River, MA

Fall River, MA priest Msgr. Maurice Souza sexually abused minor children in CT, MA and numerous other states over the course of years

What

A press conference announcing that Archbishop Emeritus of Hartford, CT, and former Bishop of Fall River, MA, Daniel A. Cronin will be deposed on Wednesday, October 21, 2015 by attorneys for two men who have alleged that they were sexually abused by a Fall River, MA diocesan priest, Msgr. Maurice Souza, and that Msgr. Souza was negligently supervised by former Fall River Bishop Daniel A. Cronin. According to the Civil Complaint, the two plaintiffs are represented by Attorney Mitchell Garabedian of Boston, MA.

When

Tuesday, October 20, 2015 at 11:00 am

Where

On the public sidewalk in front of the headquarters of the Diocese of Fall River, MA near 423 Highland Avenue, Fall River, MA 02720 – 508-675-1311

Who

Robert M. Hoatson, Ph.D., President of Road to Recovery, Inc., a non-profit charity that assists victims of sexual abuse and their families, and advocate for the plaintiffs in this case

Why

In June, 2015, a Civil Complaint was filed in Middlesex (MA) Superior Court on behalf of two Massachusetts men who allege that they were sexually abused in CT, MA, and numerous other states over the course of years by Msgr. Maurice Souza, a now deceased priest of the Diocese of Fall River, MA. The two plaintiffs allege that between approximately 1977 and 1986, when they were altar boys at St. Anthony’s Parish in East Falmouth, MA on Cape Cod, Msgr. Maurice Souza sexually abused them as minor children. The two plaintiffs allege that they were approximately 9-17 years of age when they were sexually abused by Msgr. Maurice Souza. The bishop of the Fall River, MA, Diocese from approximately 1970 until 1991 was Daniel A. Cronin who was the supervisor of Fall River diocesan priest Msgr. Maurice Souza when he was assigned to St. Anthony’s Parish in East Falmouth, MA. The two victims were taken as minor children to Connecticut, Massachusetts, and several other states to attend athletic and other events. Archbishop Emeritus of Hartford, CT, Daniel A. Cronin, when he was Bishop of the Diocese of Fall River, MA, is accused of negligent hiring, retention, direction, and supervision, among other things. Attorneys for the plaintiffs will depose Archbishop Emeritus of Hartford, CT, and former Diocese of Fall River Bishop Daniel A. Cronin on Wednesday, October 21, 2015.