Catholic priest faces sexual assault charge
Woman alleges she was touched by pastor on ‘several occasions’ in 2012
Calgary police have charged a Catholic priest with sexually assaulting a woman more than six years ago.
Investigators say the woman told them last October about assaults at St. Mark Roman Catholic Church in Marlborough between September and October 2012.
The woman said she was touched on “several occasions” by the church’s pastor.
Malcolm Joe D’Souza, 62, of Calgary was arrested on Friday and has been charged with one count of sexual assault.
Last fall, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Calgary put D’Souza on administrative leave after receiving allegations of sexual misconduct.
The diocese said the allegations involved two minors and several adults, adding the incidents are said to have taken place between 2010 and 2016.
He had previously been assigned to multiple Calgary and southern Alberta parishes between 2002 and 2018.
Just weeks earlier, a statement released by the diocese said another Calgary priest was suspended over claims of sexual misconduct in a Vancouver parish between 1998 and 2003.
The diocese confirmed Bishop William McGrattan placed D’Souza on administrative leave “and prohibited him from exercising any priestly ministry.”
The diocese also said D’Souza had previously worked at a number of parishes in Alberta, including Lethbridge, Milk River, Claresholm, Nanton and High River.
Most recently, D’Souza was assigned to the St. Bernard’s and Our Lady of the Assumption parishes in Calgary.
D’Souza will appear in court Feb. 21.
In a brief news conference Tuesday morning, Staff Sgt. Bruce Walker with the Calgary Police Service sex-crimes unit said police are still investigating, saying it’s unclear if the assault happened “just outside the church or inside the church.”
Even though police said the woman reported multiple inappropriate incidents involving D’Souza, Walker said evidence gathered only warranted one charge of sexual assault, but didn’t rule out the possibility of additional victims coming forward.
Walker said Calgarians have been reporting more historic sexual assaults over the past few years as the subject becomes less “taboo,” adding “people maybe feel more comfortable discussing (assaults) with their friends, family.”
Sexual-assault cases involving people in a “position of power or authority” can be “more complicated,” Walker said, and he encouraged anyone who was a victim of sexual assault to contact police.
Police say there is no time limit on how long a victim has to report a sexual assault.
Victims of sexual assault can contact the non-emergency line at 403-266-1234 or visit a district office. Anyone in immediate danger should call 911.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Calgary includes 68 parishes across southern Alberta.