Msgr. Maurice Souza – Assignment History

Summary of Case: Maurice Souza was ordained for the Diocese of Fall River in 1939. He was a parish priest, assisting in New Bedford, East Falmouth and Taunton before being named administrator in 1956 of Our Lady of Health in Fall River. From there he pastored St. Anthony's in Taunton (1962-1977) followed by St. Anthony's in East Falmouth (1977-1986). Souza held several leadership positions in the diocese and was elevated to Monsignor status in 1969. He retired in 1986 and died August 17, 1996.

In 2012 the Fall River diocese was notified of allegations that Souza had sexually abused two altar boys from the late 1970s to the mid-1980s, when Souza was pastor of St. Anthony's in East Falmouth and the boys were ages 9 and 10 to age 17. The abuse was said to have occurred in Massachusetts, Connecticut and elsewhere during trips for athletic events and other activities. Souza allegedly would have the boys sleep over with him in hotel rooms, a church rectory and in Souza's Taunton residence, and he would both reward and threaten them.

Investigators for the diocese determined that there wasn't enough support for "some of the more serious allegations." Attempts at mediation failed, and the men filed suit in January 2014.

Born: September 24, 1912
Ordained: 1939
Retired: 1986
Died: August 17, 1996

1939

Fall River diocese

Bishop was James Edward Cassidy (1934-1951).

1951

Cassidy was succeeded as Fall River bishop by James Louis Connolly (1951-1970).

1962

Daniel Anthony Cronin replaced Connolly as Fall River bishop (1970-1991).

1/2, 1/3

Souza was elevated to Monsignor status in 1969.

East Falmouth

• Souza was accused in a lawsuit filed in a January 2014 in Connecticut of having sexually abused two St. Anthony's altar boys from the late 1970s to the mid-1980s, beginning when the boys were ages 9 and 10 and ending when they were age 17. Souza's accusers said the abuse occurred in Massachusetts, Connecticut and elsewhere, during trips for athletic events and other activities. They said they would spend nights with Souza in hotel rooms, a church rectory and in Souza's Taunton residence. The abuse was said to have included "body massages, rubbing plaintiff's groin area and buttocks, and genital manipulation on the plaintiff for the purpose of sexual gratification and then requiring the plaintiff to mimic the same behavior upon Monsignor Souza." Souza would alledgedly both reward and threaten the boys.

The lawsuit accused then-Fall River Bishop Daniel Cronin of negligence. Cronin went on to be archbishop of Hartford, Connecticut.

Per the Fall River diocese in 2014, it was first informed of the allegations against Souza in 2012. Diocesan investigators decided that there was not enough support for "some of the more severe allegations." Souza's accusers were offered counseling. Attempts at mediation failed.

1986

Sean Patrick O'Mally, O.F.M.Cap. succeeded Cronin (1992-2002).

Priests in a Parish: We use the following convention to show a priest's place among the clergy of a parish: 1/2 means that he is the first priest listed in the Official Catholic Directory (usually the pastor) and that there is a total of two priests at the parish. The shorthand 3/4 means that the priest is listed third on a four-priest roster. See our sample page from the Directory.

Source: Official Catholic Directory (Kenedy & Sons, 1940-1997).

• Msgr. Maurice Souza, The Anchor, August 23, 1996
• Lawsuit accuses Diocese of Fall River, former bishop of failing to prevent priest's alleged sex abuse of two altar boys, by Brian Fraga, Wicked Local Falmouth, May 12, 2014
• Fall River Priest, Diocese Named in Abuse Lawsuit, by Nicole Gerber, ABC 6, May 13, 2014
• Ex-bishop named in sex abuse suit, by Curt Brown, Cape Cod Times, May 13, 2014
• Ex-archbishop Cronin Named in Suit Accusing Priest, by Matthew Kaufman, Hartford Courant, May 13, 2014
• Former Altar Boys Allege Sex Abuse at Roman Catholic Church in Falmouth, Claim Former Bishop of Fall River Did Nothing to Stop It, Mass Live (AP), May 13, 2014
• Group offers support for two men who claim they were abused by Fall River Diocese priest, by Curt Brown, South Coast Today, May 13, 2014
• Lawsuit Accused Deceased Fall River Priest of Sexual Abuse, by Cierra Putman, Turn to 10, May 13, 2014
• Diocese details efforts to resolve new sex abuse claims; result called "unreasonable", by Brian Fraga, Wicked Local Dighton, May 13, 2014
• Former altar boys file sexual abuse lawsuit, WPRI, May 13, 2014
• Men sue FR Diocese, retired bishop, alleging abuse, by Steve Klamkin, WPRO, May 13, 2014
• Mediation failed in Fall River Diocese priest sex abuse case, by Curt Brown, South Coast Today, May 14, 2014



Note: The Official Catholic Directory aims to report the whereabouts of Catholic priests in the United States on January 1 of the Directory's publication year. Our working assumption is that a priest listed in the Directory for a given year was at the same assignment for part of the previous year as well. However, Kenedy and Sons will sometimes accept updates well into the year of publication. Diocesan clergy records are rarely available to correct this information. The Directory is also sometimes misleading or wrong. We have tried to create an accurate assignment record, given the source materials and their limitations. Assignment records are a work in progress and we are always improving the records that we post. Please email us with new information and corrections.

This assignment record collates Souza's career history as it is represented in the Official Catholic Directory with the allegations against him, as reported in the media. We make no representation regarding the truth of the allegations we report, and we remind our readers that the U.S. legal system presumes that a person accused of or charged with a crime is innocent until proven guilty. Similarly, individuals who may be defendants in civil actions are presumed not to be liable for such claims unless a plaintiff proves otherwise. Admissions of guilt or liability are not typically a part of civil or private settlements. For more information, see our posting policy.

This assignment record was last updated on February 5, 2018.