Father Francis J. Crowley – Archdiocese of Boston

Assignment Record:

DatesAssignment
1954 – 1957 St. Mary’s Church, Hull, MA
1958 – 1961 St. Mary of the Annunciation, Cambridge, MA
1962 – 1964 Immaculate Conception Church, Salem, MA
1965 – 1968 St. Peter’s Church, Gloucester, MA
1969 – 1978 Holy Family Church, Rockland, MA
1979 – 1986 St. William’s Church, Dorchester, MA
1987 Awaiting Assignment
1988 – 2008 Military & VA Chaplain, Archdiocese of Boston, MA
1992 U.S.V.A. Medical Center, Bronx, NY
1995 – 2008 Veterans Administration Hospital, Providence, RI
2008 Died March 8, 2008
 
Sources
  • The Official Catholic Directory, Kenedy & Sons
Summary:
  • Father Francis J. Crowley was accused of sexually abusing a male minor child on at least one occasion in approximately 1978 when the male child was approximately fourteen years old. At the time of the sexual abuse, Father Crowley was assigned to St. William’s Church, Dorchester, MA, and the child was tasked with performing maintenance on the parish grounds as part of the city’s Youth Enrichment Services (YES) program.  The sexual abuse occurred in Father Crowley’s office, located in the rectory of St. William’s Church, where the child had been instructed by Father Crowley to perform various cleaning tasks. 
  • The sexual abuse consisted of Father Crowley fondling the male child’s penis and testicles over the male child’s clothing.
  • The claim settled in 2025 in the mid five figures.