Charges dropped against former parish priest

By Rob Vogt, Local Press Writer

The charges of sexual assault in relation to an alleged historic sexual assault have been dropped against a Roman Catholic priest who served in Claresholm, Nanton and Champion from 2006 to 2010 and is currently in Calgary.

On June 20, CTV News reported the Crown withdrew charges against Malcolm Joe D’Souza in a hearing that lasted less than a minute.

On Jan. 15, the Calgary Police Service issued a statement stating that in October of 2018, the Calgary Police Service received a report of alleged sexual assaults that had occurred in September and October 2012. The victim, an adult woman, reported being sexually touched without consent on several occasions by a priest at the St. Mark Roman Catholic Church, located at 5552 Madigan Drive N.E.

On Friday, Jan. 11, Malcolm Joe D’Souza, 62, of Calgary was arrested and charged with one count of sexual assault.

D’Souza was removed from his parishes in Calgary and placed on administrative leave in October as well.