Rhode Island Priests Accused of Abuse

Clergy sexual abuse, particularly involving credibly accused individuals within the Catholic church, has had a profound and devastating impact on countless individuals within the Rhode Island Catholic Diocese, including instances of child sexual abuse. This issue has a long and painful history in which trust was betrayed, and those in positions of power harmed vulnerable individuals.

Injury Lawyer Team works to provide closure and reparations to people who are impacted by past child sexual abuse, particularly those from the Catholic Diocese of Providence. Our firm has strong knowledge regarding historical context and is aware of the seriousness of clergy sexual abuse, which allows us to help survivors recover compensation.

Our Rhode Island clergy abuse lawyers are ready to support survivors in their quest for justice through legal assistance.

Rhode Island Catholic Diocese Priest Sex Abuse List

Diocese of Providence RI

Joseph A. Abruzzese

• Convicted
  

Joseph A. Abruzzese was ordained in 1990 and placed on leave on December 1, 1993 after allegations that he sexually assaulted a sixteen-year-old boy in a local park. In 1994 he entered a no-contest plea to second-degree sexual assault and received five years of probation and court-ordered counseling. He later appeared in official Catholic directories as absent on leave and was included on the diocesan list of credibly accused clergy in July 2019.

Roger E. Belhumeur

• Accused
  

Roger E. Belhumeur served as a diocesan priest in Providence. His name was released on July 1, 2019 when the diocese published a list of clergy found to have credible allegations of sexual abuse of minors. The diocese reported receiving the allegation or allegations after his death on September 28, 2010, and he was placed among the deceased clergy whose alleged misconduct surfaced posthumously.

Ronald E. Brassard

• Sued
  

Ronald E. Brassard was accused in a 1995 lawsuit of sexually abusing a minor boy who had been a student at a seminary in the 1970s. The suit alleged that multiple priests participated in the abuse. Brassard remained in active ministry for years afterward, later serving as pastor of St. Mark’s in Jamestown and continuing as pastor of Immaculate Conception in Cranston, even as his name appeared among the priests identified in civil litigation.

Daniel M. Azzarone, Jr.

• Convicted
  

Daniel M. Azzarone Jr., ordained in 1978, was accused of sexually assaulting several teenage boys, including a sixteen-year-old parishioner during and after a Caribbean cruise in 2000. He was placed on leave in 2001 and later faced criminal charges. In 2005 he pleaded no contest to two counts of first-degree sexual assault, received a three-year prison sentence followed by seven years’ probation, and was eventually laicized after large civil settlements with multiple victims.

John C. Allard

• Accused
  

Msgr. John C. Allard, ordained in 1975, was removed from his positions in 2013 after a man reported that Allard sexually abused him in 1981 when he was a teenager at Immaculate Conception Parish in Cranston. The allegation described repeated abuse while Allard served as parochial vicar. The diocese restricted him from ministry and outreach roles, and his name was later added to the diocesan list of clergy found credibly accused of abusing a minor.

Dennis Brodeur

• Accused
  

Dennis Brodeur served in the Diocese of Providence as a parish priest. His name appeared on the diocesan list of credibly accused clergy released on July 1, 2019, which stated that he died on January 1, 2004 and that the allegation or allegations of sexual abuse of a minor were received only after his death. He is listed among deceased priests against whom the diocese later judged complaints to be credible.

Paul Charland

• Accused
  

Paul Charland, a diocesan priest, was publicly identified by the Diocese of Providence on July 1, 2019 as having a credible accusation of sexual abuse of a minor. The diocese reported that he was removed from ministry on August 26, 2011. His inclusion on the list reflected an internal determination that the allegation met the diocesan standard for credibility, and he has not returned to public ministry in the diocese.

Robert A. Carpentier

• Settled
  

Robert A. Carpentier was accused by a man who filed a civil suit in 1992, alleging sexual abuse when the plaintiff was a youth. The case became part of a broader series of clergy abuse lawsuits against the Diocese of Providence. In 2002, the diocese reached a $13.5 million global settlement resolving thirty-six claims involving alleged abuse by eleven priests and a nun, and the Carpentier case was included in that settlement package.

James D. Campbell

• Convicted
  

James D. Campbell, a member of a religious order and ordained in 1972, served at a parish in West Warwick and as chaplain at the Rhode Island Medical Center from 1975 to 1977. He was later placed on leave in 2002 after accusations that he had sexually abused a boy in Worcester, Massachusetts. Campbell faced criminal proceedings in Massachusetts and entered a plea that led to a conviction and a sentence including imprisonment and probation.

Geoffrey Chase

• Accused
  

Geoffrey Chase, a Benedictine monk and teacher at Portsmouth Abbey School, was identified after the school contacted alumni in the early 2000s about past sexual abuse. Former students reported that Chase abused them between the late 1960s and early 1980s while he was a dorm housemaster and faculty member. He admitted to abusing several boys during that period, and his name has since appeared in lists cataloging abusive clergy linked to Rhode Island institutions.

Peter Claver

• Settled
  

Brother Peter Claver, a member of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart, was accused of sexually abusing students at a Catholic school in Rhode Island. Survivors reported misconduct that occurred while he worked in educational ministries associated with the Diocese of Providence. At least one case involving his alleged abuse was resolved through a civil settlement, and his name appears in compilations of religious order members whose conduct led to claims against the diocese.

Joseph D’Angelo

• Settled
  

Joseph D’Angelo, a diocesan priest, was one of eleven priests and a nun whose cases formed part of a $13.5 million mass settlement announced by the Diocese of Providence in September 2002, covering thirty-six survivors. His faculties had been suspended on July 1, 1983. The claims against him involved allegations of sexual abuse of minors, and he is listed by the diocese among clergy with credible accusations involving child victims.

Anthony A. DeAngelis

• Accused
  

Anthony A. DeAngelis, ordained in 1935, was accused by a woman who came forward in the 1990s stating that he had sexually abused her repeatedly between 1957 and 1965, beginning when she was five years old, at a parish school. The Diocese of Providence paid her $12,500 for therapy expenses in 1996. DeAngelis died in 1990, and his name was later added to the diocesan list of clergy credibly accused of abusing a minor.

Normand J. Demers

• Sued
  

Normand J. Demers, ordained in 1958, founded the Haitian Project and ran the Louverture Cleary School near Port-au-Prince. In 1989 Haitian boys reported sexual abuse by Demers, prompting local authorities to investigate before he returned to Rhode Island. He later served at St. Martha Parish in East Providence. In 2002 the diocese removed him after a man alleged abuse as a child in the late 1960s. A 2020 lawsuit also accused him of trafficking boys for sexual exploitation.

Alfred R. Desrosiers

• Settled
  

Alfred R. Desrosiers was accused in two civil suits filed in 1994 of molesting one fifteen-year-old girl in 1972 and another in 1975-76 while serving at St. Joan of Arc Parish. He faced a criminal rape charge, was indicted, and prepared for trial as appellate questions went to the Rhode Island Supreme Court. In September 2002, multiple claims against him were included in a $13.5 million diocesan settlement with thirty-six survivors. He died in 2001.

Paul Desrosiers

• Accused
  

Paul Desrosiers, ordained in 1940, served as a parish priest and member of the diocesan tribunal from 1959 to 1968. His name was added in 2019 to the diocesan list of clergy credibly accused of abuse of a minor. He died in 1984 at age seventy-one from injuries sustained in a bus crash while traveling in Granada, Spain, and the allegation concerning his conduct surfaced only many years after his death.

Louis M. Diogo

• Accused
  

Louis M. Diogo, ordained in 1946, retired and moved out of state in 1993 after a cousin informed diocesan officials that he had abused her and her sister in the 1950s and 1960s. The diocese considered her credible but no criminal charges followed. In 2005, when the diocese learned he had returned to Rhode Island and was celebrating Mass, officials ordered him to cease ministry. He died on April 4, 2015, and appears on the diocesan list of credibly accused clergy.

Charles Dolan

• Accused
  

Charles Dolan, ordained in 1930, served in the Diocese of Providence for decades. He was later accused of sexually abusing a woman who said the misconduct occurred when she was a minor in the 1960s. Dolan died on November 5, 1977. When the diocese released its list of credibly accused clergy on July 1, 2019, Dolan’s name was included among deceased priests whose alleged abuse came to light only after their deaths.

Oscar Ferland

• Accused
  

Oscar Ferland, ordained in 1944, was accused of drugging and sexually abusing a high-school student in the late 1960s. The alleged victim later wrote a detailed letter describing the abuse and enclosing complaints from more than thirty-five other people claiming clergy abuse, which was sent to police. Public reporting on Ferland’s case did not emerge until 2013. He died on July 8, 1998, and the diocese subsequently listed him among credibly accused priests.

Louis Ward Dunn

• Convicted
  

Monsignor Louis Ward Dunn was accused by multiple women of sexual misconduct, including rape, beginning when one complainant was a teenager seeking counseling in 1982. He was placed on leave in 1994, tried on two rape cases in the 1990s, and ultimately convicted in one. After appeals, his conviction was reinstated and in 1999 he received a ten-year suspended sentence with confinement in a nursing facility. Some claims against him were settled in 2002. He died in 2001.

John F. Ferry

• Accused
  

John F. Ferry, ordained in 1957, served as editor of the diocesan newspaper. A man later reported that Ferry had drugged and sexually abused him in the late 1960s when he was a high-school student working at the paper. The survivor’s letter, along with many other complaints about clergy, was eventually forwarded to law enforcement. Ferry died on April 11, 1988, and his name was added to the diocesan list of credibly accused clergy in 2019.

Kevin R. Fisette

• Indicted
  

Kevin R. Fisette, ordained in 1981, was removed as pastor of St. Leo the Great Parish in Pawtucket in August 2009 after a man alleged that Fisette sexually abused him in 1981-82 when he was a teenager and Fisette was a deacon and hospital chaplain. State police deemed the allegation credible, but the statute of limitations initially blocked charges. In May 2022 a statewide grand jury indicted him for first-degree sexual assault tied to the same period. He has pleaded not guilty.

William Gillooly

• Accused
  

William Gillooly, ordained in 1944, was later accused in a civil lawsuit of molesting a minor during the 1970s. The case was resolved in 2002 as part of a $13.5 million settlement between the Diocese of Providence and dozens of clergy abuse survivors. Gillooly died on September 2, 1989. In 2019 the diocese formally listed him among credibly accused clergy, noting that the complaint or complaints were received after his death.

Richard Holden

• Accused
  

Richard Holden, ordained in 1964, served as a diocesan priest until his death on March 23, 1985. Years later, an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor was reported to the Diocese of Providence. When the diocese published its list of credibly accused clergy on July 1, 2019, Holden’s name was included among deceased priests who had predeceased any allegation but whose conduct was later judged to meet the diocesan standard for a credible accusation.

James W. Jackson

• Guilty plea
  

James W. Jackson, a diocesan priest and pastor, was first identified through an investigation that traced child pornography to an internet connection at St. Mary’s rectory in Rhode Island. He was subsequently arrested in Kansas in 2021 while living under supervision with electronic monitoring and charged in federal court with receiving and possessing child pornography. Jackson entered a guilty plea and received a six-year prison sentence, and his case drew national attention to clergy online abuse.

Edmund Fitzgerald

• Accused
  

Edmund Fitzgerald, ordained in 1957, was removed from ministry in August 1998 after a man reported that Fitzgerald had sexually abused him over several years in the 1960s, beginning when he was an eight-year-old altar server. The victim’s brother later alleged that he too was abused as a child. Fitzgerald’s faculties were formally removed in 2002. He died in 2010, and the diocese added him to its list of credibly accused clergy in July 2019.

Laurence Gagnon

• Charged
  

Laurence Gagnon served as a deacon at St. Joseph’s in West Warwick, Rhode Island. He was accused of inappropriately touching at least three young boys connected with the parish. Families reported sexual contact during parish activities, leading to a police investigation and criminal charges for child molestation. After the accusations surfaced, diocesan authorities removed him from ministry and restricted his public role in church life.

Bede Gorman

• Accused
  

Benedictine monk Bede Gorman taught and lived at Portsmouth Abbey School, where he had authority over boarding students. Decades later, the school hired an outside firm to investigate historical abuse and contacted alumni. Several former students reported sexual abuse by Gorman in the 1950s through 1972, when boarding ended. Those allegations were deemed credible, and he is now listed among monks accused of abusing students during his tenure.

Edward J. Kelley

• Indicted
  

Edward J. Kelley, a priest with past assignments in the Diocese of Providence, was later arrested in South Carolina on charges that he sexually assaulted a boy in 1983 in North Smithfield, Rhode Island. The criminal case focused on an incident that allegedly occurred while he served there. Years later he was removed from ministry in Charleston after concerns over his conduct with an adult woman in that diocese.

Michael V. LaMountain

• Convicted
  

Michael V. LaMountain, pastor of St. John’s in West Warwick, was indicted in 1997 on criminal charges of child molestation involving multiple boys. He received nine concurrent twelve-year suspended sentences after entering guilty pleas, leaving him under lengthy court supervision. Survivors later joined the large 2002 Providence settlement of clergy abuse claims. His name appears on the diocesan list of credibly accused clerics. He died in 2010 and was referenced in a later Maryland report.

Timothy J. Gorton

• Accused
  

Timothy J. Gorton served at Precious Blood Parish in Woonsocket when past allegations of misconduct came to the diocese’s attention. The reported conduct dated to roughly thirty years earlier and involved a minor. Once the accusation was reviewed, he was removed from his assignment and no longer allowed parish ministry. His name later appeared among clergy in Providence associated with credible accusations of sexual abuse of a minor.

Paul Henry Leech

• Convicted
  

Paul Henry Leech was removed from ministry in 1984 after reports that he abused several boys between 1982 and 1984. Criminal prosecution followed, and he was convicted of molesting three or four boys. The court imposed an 86-year sentence, structured so that he served about three years in prison, followed by twelve years of probation. His case remains one of the most serious clergy abuse prosecutions in the diocese.

Roland M. Lepire

• Settled
  

Roland M. Lepire was accused of sexually abusing a young man in 1978 during his work as a diocesan priest. The allegation later became one of many civil claims against Providence clergy. His case was folded into the diocese’s large $13.5 million settlement that resolved thirty-six lawsuits by victims of priest abuse, which publicly confirmed his inclusion among alleged perpetrators whose conduct led to payments.

Philip A. Magaldi

• Settled
  

Philip A. Magaldi left Providence in 1988 after concerns about financial mismanagement at a parish. He later returned to active ministry in Fort Worth, Texas, before pleading guilty there to embezzlement in 1992. Separate accusations stated that he sexually abused a boy in Rhode Island during the 1970s. Multiple civil suits named him, and at least one survivor’s claim involving his abuse was included in large diocesan settlements.

Daniel McCallion

• Sued
  

Daniel McCallion served as a parish priest in Providence when a girl accused him of sexual abuse during confession. The lawsuit alleged that he molested her at age thirteen while hearing her confession in the 1990s. The civil action described the abuse as occurring in a setting where he exercised authority over her spiritual care, and it sought damages from both McCallion and the diocesan leadership for the harm reported.

Robert A. Marcantonio

• Settled
  

Robert A. Marcantonio’s misconduct with boys became known to diocesan authorities by 1970, when Bishop Reilly learned he had molested several boys aged twelve to fourteen. Marcantonio was sent to Ames, Iowa, for treatment yet allowed to continue ministry there. Over time, multiple men alleged abuse by him in Rhode Island parishes. He was removed from ministry in 1989, and several civil suits settled by 1994 acknowledged his pattern of abuse.

Robert J. McIntyre

• Sued
  

Monsignor Robert J. McIntyre was not accused of direct abuse but was sued for allegedly covering up abuse at St. Aloysius Home, a Catholic orphanage. Plaintiffs claimed that diocesan officials, including McIntyre, failed to act effectively on reports that children there were being molested. The case went to trial, and a jury concluded that the evidence did not support holding McIntyre liable for the alleged concealment.

Barry Meehan

• Arrested
  

Barry Meehan worked in several parishes in West Warwick, Cranston, and Providence. A man reported that Meehan sexually assaulted him from 1986 to 1991 when he was a teenager. During the diocesan investigation, a second accuser surfaced with similar claims. Meehan was removed from ministry and, in 2014, arrested on multiple counts of first-degree sexual assault. The criminal case ended when he died in 2016 before standing trial.

Adrian Menard

• Accused
  

Adrian Menard, ordained for the Diocese of Providence, served in Rhode Island parishes until his death on February 1, 1976. Many years afterward, the diocese received at least one allegation that he had sexually abused a minor during his ministry. The claim led to his inclusion on the diocesan list of clergy with credible accusations, with the diocese specifying that the report arrived after he had already died.

Richard L. Meglio

• Settled
  

Richard L. Meglio was removed from ministry on April 22, 1988 after a civil suit accused him of molesting a minor during the 1970s. The plaintiff alleged that Meglio abused him when he was hospitalized and then continued contact after discharge. The suit, together with other cases against Providence clergy, was resolved in the 2002 mass settlement, which compensated dozens of survivors and formally acknowledged Meglio’s role among accused priests.

Edmund C. Micarelli

• Settled
  

Edmund C. Micarelli’s misconduct was known to diocesan officials before 1962, yet he remained in parish and youth ministry for years. Multiple men later described being abused by him as boys, including a survivor who reported a seven-year pattern of abuse. Micarelli was finally removed from ministry on April 17, 1990. Several of the suits naming him were included in the $13.5 million settlement announced in 2002.

William O’Neill

• Accused
  

William O’Neill served as a priest in Providence before leaving ministry on July 10, 1971. He died on May 3, 2000. After his death, allegations emerged that he had sexually abused a minor in Rhode Island during the period from the mid-1960s through the early 1980s. The diocesan review process later judged the report credible, and his name appeared on the 2019 list of accused clergy released by the diocese.

William C. O’Connell

• Convicted
  

William C. O’Connell held assignments in four parishes within three years, then became a Navy chaplain. Multiple boys later accused him of sexual abuse spanning several years. He ultimately pleaded guilty to abusing three boys, retired from active ministry, and received a ten-year prison sentence. Civil lawsuits additionally alleged that he molested boys between 1965 and 1972, leading to further findings of misconduct and his permanent removal from priestly work.

John N. Petrocelli

• Charged
  

John N. Petrocelli was removed from ministry on August 22, 2002 after a man accused him of abusing him as a boy in the late 1980s. That claim later settled for $1.326 million. In 2020 a statewide grand jury indicted Petrocelli on charges that he abused three boys between 1981 and 1990 while assigned to Holy Family Parish in Woonsocket. The indictment detailed repeated assaults during his parish assignment.

Hugh Rafferty

• Accused
  

Hugh Rafferty left active ministry on November 1, 1974 and died on January 11, 2001. After his death, at least one allegation of sexual abuse of a minor reached the Diocese of Providence. When the diocese released its list of clergy with credible accusations, it included Rafferty among deceased priests whose alleged misconduct came to light only years later, noting that he had already been long removed from public ministry.

William Raiche

• Accused
  

William Raiche served in several Rhode Island parishes before his death on March 26, 1983. Later, the diocese received at least one report accusing him of sexually abusing a minor during his active ministry. The allegation led to his inclusion on the diocesan list of credibly accused clergy, with the diocese specifying that the reported abuse occurred decades earlier and only became known after Raiche had died.

Rene Guertin

• Accused
  

Rene Guertin directed St. Aloysius Home in Greenville and worked in parish and school settings around the diocese. He died on January 23, 1982. Years afterward, allegations emerged that Guertin had sexually abused children during his leadership at the orphanage. The diocese later listed him among clergy with credible accusations, tying the reports to his long tenure overseeing vulnerable minors in institutional care.

Joseph James Rocha

• Convicted
  

Dominican priest Joseph James Rocha held assignments in Washington, Boston, Nashville and Providence. In Rhode Island, he sexually assaulted a 21-year-old mentally disabled man in 1999. Rocha pleaded guilty to that assault, received ten years of probation, and was ordered into counseling and sex-offender registration. His record across several dioceses, including Providence, places him among clerics whose abuse of vulnerable adults and young people led to criminal sentences.

Peter Scagnelli

• Accused
  

Peter Scagnelli served at various parishes and in campus ministry within the Diocese of Providence. He was removed from ministry on January 1, 1994 after concerns over his conduct with a minor. Later, the diocese listed him as a priest credibly accused of sexually abusing a minor, confirming that he would not be returned to public ministry. Scagnelli died on July 12, 2017, after more than two decades out of active parish work.

Sister Claudine Mary

• Settled
  

Sister Claudine Mary, a member of a religious community working in diocesan institutions, was accused in multiple civil suits of abusing children under her care. Her name appeared as the lone woman religious in a set of thirty-six lawsuits that the Diocese of Providence settled in September 2002 for $13.5 million. Those cases involved conduct by eleven priests and one nun, including claims linked directly to her work with minors.

Brendan Smyth

• Convicted
  

Norbertine priest Brendan Smyth abused large numbers of boys and girls in Ireland and the United States over several decades. His time in the United States included brief assignments linked to Providence. Criminal cases in Ireland and Northern Ireland later documented dozens of victims. Smyth was convicted on many counts of child sexual abuse, imprisoned, and died in custody in 1997. Civil suits and inquiries later detailed institutional failings that allowed him to continue offending.

William Tanguay

• Accused
  

William Tanguay served in Rhode Island parishes, later working in Minneapolis and in the Diocese of Charlotte. Allegations stated that he abused minors in Rhode Island between 1965 and 1981. He was removed from ministry on June 17, 2002. When the diocese released its list of credibly accused clergy in 2019, Tanguay’s name appeared with those dates, confirming that he remained barred from public priestly service.

Edward J. Sadowski Jr.

• Convicted
  

Deacon Edward J. Sadowski Jr. was arrested in 2001 after arranging online to meet someone he believed was a 14-year-old girl for sexual purposes. The “girl” was an undercover officer. He was charged with using a computer to solicit a minor, entered a plea in criminal court, and received a two-year prison sentence followed by five years of probation. He was removed from ministry after his arrest and conviction.

Francis C. Santilli

• Sued
  

Francis C. Santilli, a diocesan priest, was placed on leave in February 2022 after a new allegation that he sexually abused a minor around 1979 or 1980. The diocese had previously received two other reports that he abused minors, which it had earlier judged not credible. The 2022 accusation prompted civil litigation and a renewed review, and Santilli has remained out of active ministry during the legal and canonical processes.

John Tormey

• Accused
  

Father John Tormey was publicly identified by the Diocese of Providence as having been accused of sexual misconduct. After the diocese announced that it considered the allegation credible, Tormey responded by filing a defamation lawsuit against the diocese in 2018. His suit argued that church officials damaged his reputation by publishing the accusation. The civil case focused on whether the diocese’s public statements about the allegation were justified and protected.

James M. Silva

• Convicted
  

James M. Silva was removed from ministry in 1993 following claims that he had sexually abused a boy under age 14 in 1989–1990. A criminal investigation led to his indictment on related charges, and he later entered a plea that resulted in a conviction. The diocese settled eight civil claims against him in 2002 and required him to undergo counseling. He has not been returned to priestly ministry since his removal.

Peter L. Tedeschi

• Accused
  

Peter L. Tedeschi served at Holy Trinity and later Sacred Heart High School. A woman, then age 73, reported that he sexually abused her over more than a year beginning when she was a middle-school student and continuing after she moved to Sacred Heart. She described repeated abuse in church-related settings while he was in a position of authority. Her account became part of the wider record of clergy abuse allegations in the diocese.

Biagio Samuel Turillo

• Accused
  

Biagio Samuel Turillo, a retired priest about 96 years old at the time of action, was barred by the Diocese of Providence from exercising sacred ministry after a credible allegation that he engaged in sexual misconduct with a minor. The diocesan announcement stated that he could no longer present himself publicly as a priest or perform sacramental functions while living under those restrictions in retirement.

John M. Walderman

• Sued
  

Brother John M. Walderman, a member of a religious institute associated with the diocese, held teaching and administrative assignments at Blessed Sacrament High School in New York City, Bishop Kearney High School in Rochester, Cardinal Hayes High School in the Bronx, Rice High School in Harlem, and with the Edmund Rice Institute in Australia. He was later named as a defendant in civil litigation alleging sexual abuse of a student during his educational work.

Armand Ventre

• Acquitted
  

Father Armand Ventre served at Our Lady of Good Help Parish from 1980 to 1985. In August 1985 he was indicted on charges that he sexually molested two altar boys and one mentally handicapped youth. The case proceeded through the criminal courts, and a jury ultimately acquitted him of the charges. After his acquittal, his situation remained a point of controversy as the wider clergy abuse crisis unfolded.

Credibly Accused Clergy Members and Child Sexual Abuse Lawsuits

Clergy sexual abuse involves inappropriate and illegal sexual conduct by trusted clergy members, church officials, religious leaders, and others who are credibly accused. As a result of child sexual abuse, survivors suffer from long-term psychological, emotional, and spiritual trauma.

These can affect their mental health and cause depression, PTSD, and difficulties with trust and relationships. Following proper reporting procedures and seeking legal action for clergy members credibly accused of child sexual abuse are crucial to prevent future clergy abuse.

In Rhode Island, the legal process typically starts with filing a child sexual abuse complaint and is followed by the state police.

Charges are filed against the credibly accused priests if evidence supports the abuse claim, including allegations related to church officials, such as the assistant pastor or clerics in the office. This may include working with the Rhode Island Attorney General or filing criminal charges in court.

Pre-trial hearings occur, leading to a trial where the prosecution must prove guilt. Trials often vary, but may include various things to prove child sexual abuse claims are true, such as:

• Reviewing files from various parishes
• Discussing contact, such as phone calls and text messages
• Interviewing clerics who work in the office
• Speaking with other clergy members
• Reviewing decades of child sexual abuse cases to determine if there’s a pattern of abuse

If convicted, sentencing follows. Victims can also pursue civil lawsuits to recover compensation.

Legal Support for Catholic Church Abuse Survivors in Rhode Island

Injury Lawyer Team offers specialized legal facilities to past child sexual abuse survivors of Rhode Island, including those from the Catholic Diocese of Providence, to ensure their voices are heard when they step forward to seek justice.

Our experienced legal team has a deep understanding of the complexities involved in child sexual abuse and other clergy abuse claims, including various accusations. Our services include:

• Confidential consultations to discuss the case and legal options to seek justice
• Thorough investigation and gathering evidence to make a strong clergy sexual abuse case
• Filing and managing lawsuits on behalf of survivors
• Representation in the RI Supreme Court and during settlements
• Coordination with support services for emotional and psychological care

What Laws Govern Priest Abuse Lawsuits in Rhode Island

Rhode Island has strong laws to protect alleged clergy abuse victims, especially when it comes to sexual abuse committed by credibly accused priests.

Statute of Limitations

Rhode Island law sets time limits to file a lawsuit for certain crimes, including being sexually abused.

For severe crimes like rape, first-degree sexual assault, first-degree child molestation sexual assault, and second-degree child molestation sexual assault, there is no statute of limitations to press criminal charges. Survivors can start legal proceedings at any time, even after decades, no matter how much time has passed since the abuse occurred.

For civil cases, victims can file lawsuits until they turn 53 or within three years of discovering the abuse.

A person is guilty of first-degree sexual assault if they engage in sexual penetration with another person under specific circumstances. These include cases where the victim is mentally incapacitated, mentally disabled, or physically helpless, and the accused knows or should know about this condition.

Mandatory Reporting Laws

Rhode Island mandates that certain professionals, including clergy, report suspected child abuse. Individuals required to report abuse or neglect are known as mandated reporters.

Failure to report can result in fines and imprisonment. These laws aim to protect children and ensure timely intervention.

Rhode Island Crime Victim Compensation Program

Rhode Island’s Crime Victim Compensation Program (CVCP), administered by the Office of the General Treasurer, provides financial support of up to $25,000 to victims of violent crime to help cover costs such as medical and counseling expenses, relocation, lost wages, and funeral expenses.

Applicants must report the crime to law enforcement within 15 days and file a claim within three years of the crime (with more extended deadlines for minors). The program’s regulatory framework is grounded in R.I. Gen. Laws 12-25-18, and detailed eligibility and compensation rules are set out in the CVCP Rules & Regulations.

Age of Consent

In Rhode Island, the legal age of consent for sexual activity is 16 years old, meaning that individuals younger than 16 cannot legally consent in many cases. There are exceptions for teens close in age to protect teens in consensual relationships. However, special provisions are also included for those in positions of power.

The statute defines “position of authority” to include persons who have supervisory, disciplinary, or custodial power over someone under 18; this expressly covers “legal, professional, or occupational status.”

Because priests are frequently in such authoritative roles (as spiritual leaders, guardians of trust, and persons who may have regular contact and influence over minors), sexual activity between a priest (adult) and any person under 18 may be criminalized under third-degree sexual assault, even if that younger person is older than 14.

Filing a Clergy Sexual Abuse Lawsuit in Rhode Island

In Rhode Island, there are several critical procedures involved in bringing a lawsuit alleging priest abuse, such as consulting with knowledgeable legal counsel. Here is how we assist survivors who have been sexually abused by clergy members at the Roman Catholic Diocese in Rhode Island in navigating this process and addressing any additional inquiries :

• Initial Consultation: Contact us for a confidential consultation. We’ll listen to your story, answer your questions, and discuss the legal actions available to you against Rhode Island clergy members.
• Case Evaluation: Our team will conduct a thorough evaluation of your case. We’ll gather evidence, review documents, and identify any witnesses, such as clergy members, who can support your sexual abuse claims.
• Filing the Lawsuit: Once we have gathered enough evidence, we’ll file the necessary legal documents to start your lawsuit. This civil suit includes drafting and submitting the complaint to the appropriate court in Rhode Island.
• Pre-trial Proceedings: During discovery, both sides exchange information and evidence related to the sexual abuse case, including depositions, interrogatories, and document requests.
• Negotiation and Settlement: Many cases are resolved through negotiation and settlement before reaching trial. We’ll negotiate on your behalf to seek a fair settlement that compensates you for your suffering and damages.
• Trial: We will take your case to trial if a settlement cannot be reached. Our experienced attorneys will advocate for you in court, presenting evidence and making arguments to seek justice.

Filing a sexual abuse lawsuit is a significant step toward justice and healing. Injury Lawyer Team is committed to supporting you throughout this journey and providing expert legal representation.

Support Resources for Survivors in Rhode Island

Rhode Island survivors have access to numerous support resources that provide emotional, legal, and practical assistance, encouraging them to step forward, seek justice, and navigate their recovery journey.

• Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence (RICADV): This organization provides comprehensive support services, including emergency shelter and legal advocacy. It can help victims of sexual abuse, including those sexually abused by religious order priests.
• RAINN (Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network): This is one of the largest anti-sexual violence organizations that creates the National Sexual Assault Hotline to offer 24/7 confidential support, connecting survivors with local Rhode Island resources. It can help those who have been sexually abused by accused priests.
• Faith-based support groups: These groups provide spiritual and emotional support that is tailored to survivors of clergy abuse. Although these are faith-based, it’s uncommon for them to be involved with the same credibly accused priests your Rhode Island lawsuit is against.
• Mental health professionals: They specialize in trauma-informed care, offering therapy consultation and psychotherapy to help Rhode Island survivors heal. Mental health professionals can help you learn coping skills that commonly work for those who have been sexually abused by religious order priests, so you can function and get back to living your life.

Notable Cases and Outcomes of Publicly Accused Clergy in Rhode Island

In recent years, Rhode Island has seen multiple indictments related to clergy abuse with impactful outcomes. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence also released a list of 50 priests and clerics who were credibly accused of child abuse throughout the state. Some ntoable cases include:

• First-Degree Sexual Assault Case: In 2022, a former Catholic Church priest named Kevin Fisette was charged with sexually molesting a minor in the early 1980s with first-degree sexual assault and was removed from ministry. At the time of the sexual abuse, Fisette was the deacon in Our Lady of Victory Parish. However, after leaving Our Lady of Victory Parish, Fisette served at numerous other Rhode Island parishes until 2009. The Kevin Fisette indictment was part of a broader investigation by the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office and Rhode Island State Police.
• Diocese of Providence Settlement (2002): The Providence Diocese agreed to a $13.5 million settlement with 36 victims of clergy sexual misconduct, setting a precedent for large-scale settlements in the state. Sexually abused minors made these sexual abuse allegations against 11 priests and one nun. The victory for the minors who were sexually abused also helped bring attention to the lack of reporting from church officials in the Catholic church and encouraged others to speak up.
• James W. Jackson: In December 2023, Rev. James W. Jackson was sentenced to six years in federal prison for possessing child pornography, with over 12,000 images and 1,300 videos found. An investigation revealed that Jackson was viewing child pornography while residing in Kansas. Jackson pleaded guilty. After Jackson pleaded guilty, headlines revealed child pornography found on devices at St. Mary Church in Providence.

Although these notable cases made headlines, they are far from the only allegations against the Roman Catholic Diocese. There have also been allegations like these:

• Providence Diocese
• Holy Family Parish (the assistant pastor of Holy Family Parish was credibly accused of sexually abusing three minors)
• Cover-ups by Rhode Island church officials became public knowledge in 2007 when The Providence Journal reported them

These results and tragedies highlight how crucial it is to take legal action and hold credibly accused priests accountable for sexual abuse. This includes members of the Catholic church who helped hide the abuse, such as clergy members who bribed other children to be quiet, clerics, office staff, and anyone else who knew but failed to report the abuse or protect minors.

Our attorneys have reviewed public and private settlement data related to Rhode Island clergy abuse settlements. Depending on the circumstances of your sexual abuse case against the Roman Catholic Diocese or credibly accused religious order priests, these cases may be fairly valued in the $400,000 to $950,000 range. In cases of extreme conduct or if that case were to go before a Rhode Island jury, damages could exceed $1 million.

Injury Lawyer Team has a team of enthusiastic, passionate employees with extensive knowledge of Rhode Island law. We provide comprehensive legal assistance so child sexual abuse survivors are empowered and informed every step of the way.

Our strong track record in securing justice and compensation for sexually abused survivors speaks to our expertise and dedication. Our lawyers understand the emotional toll these cases take on victims and provide a supportive, empathetic environment for our clients.

With deep knowledge of the legal complexities involved in clergy abuse cases, we are committed to holding credibly accused perpetrators accountable. Choosing Injury Lawyer Team ensures survivors receive the justice they deserve through a compassionate and expert legal team.

If you or a loved one has been a victim of clergy sex abuse in Rhode Island, we encourage you to step forward and reach out for a confidential consultation. Our team of clergy abuse lawyers is here to provide the support and guidance you need through this challenging time and fight for the justice you deserve.

All content undergoes thorough legal review by experienced attorneys, including Jonathan Rosenfeld. With 25 years of experience in personal injury law and over 100 years of combined legal expertise within our team, we ensure that every article is legally accurate, compliant, and reflects current legal standards.