RI Attorney General Releases Long-Awaited Report on Child Sexual Abuse in Diocese of Providence

RI Attorney General Releases Long-Awaited Report on Child Sexual Abuse in Diocese of Providence

In 2019, Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha announced that the State of Rhode Island had signed an agreement to gain access to the Diocese of Providence's records dating back to the 1950s in an effort to find additional cases of sexual abuse by church priests and staff.

Now, Neronha has finally issued that report. The 284-page report tracks the abuse by members of the Diocese over decades.

“The Diocese would have you believe that this report is historical; that child sexual abuse by clergy members is a thing of the past and not worth drudging up,” continued Attorney General Neronha. “To that I say: the pain that survivors and their families suffer knows no statute of limitations, and history always has something to teach us. Child sexual abuse in the Diocese of Providence occurred on an abhorrent, staggering scale. And as our report describes, for decades the Diocese of Providence engaged in a well-worn pattern of protecting the reputation of the Church and its priests over the welfare of children. They failed to report the abuse to civil authorities; they failed to properly investigate those complaints internally; and they failed to remove accused priests from positions where they had access to even more children, who tragically paid the price for those failures.

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“Instead, the Diocese kept the abuse secret; they hid and they obfuscated. And while the situation has improved in recent years, there remains work to be done. When my Office asked Diocesan representatives to engage in the investigatory process in person, they repeatedly refused. When my Office requested supplemental documents, they frequently dragged their feet. Their tendency to reflexively turn inward is part of what perpetuated this crisis, and I’m not sure if all of the lessons have been learned.

According to the report: 

Our Investigation identified 75 clergy, including 61 Diocesan priests and deacons, 13 religious order members, and one extern priest, who have been credibly accused of “Sexual Misconduct Perpetrated Against a Child by Diocesan Personnel,”5 and who reportedly abused over 300 victims during the Review Period. This includes 20 individuals whom the Diocese has, as of the time of the publication of this Report, failed to publicly identify. “Credibly accused,” as used here and elsewhere in the Report, means that an individual is the subject of one or more “Credible Allegation” as defined in the MOU, namely: “[A]n allegation of Sexual Misconduct Perpetrated Against a Child where there is a reasonable basis to believe that the alleged conduct more likely than not occurred, as determined by the Attorney General.”6 These individuals are discussed both throughout this Report ...

“This report is a long time coming and it should be clear to anyone reading it that the systematic coverup of this pervasive and appalling behavior is just as bad as the actual assaults of countless helpless children.  Like the Epstein files, this report shows the lengths to which vile predators were shielded and protected from accountability by powerful institutions, and it should make us all angry and disgusted.  Revealing the truth about this immoral corruption is the first step to delivering real justice for so many victims, and I will continue to support our victims’ rights and quest for justice through legislation that will hold both the abusers and the institutions that protected these predators accountable in the courts,” said Chairwoman McEntee (D-Dist. 33, South Kingstown, Narragansett).         

McEntee has reintroduced legislation (2026-H 7200) that would amend what is considered sexual abuse for purposes of limitations on actions based on sexual abuse or exploitation of a child and would amend the provisions for when a cause of action may be brought.  The legislation is part of the report’s legislative recommendations.

“I’ve tried for a long time to secure some form of justice for victims of childhood sexual abuse, and I will continue to do so until accountability is delivered.  This is personal for me.  My dear sister Annie endured years of abuse as a young girl from our parish priest, and when she finally summoned the courage to confront this terrible crime perpetrated against her, she was met with silence and gaslighting from the institution that should have been protecting her and her innocence,” said McEntee.  “Sexual abusers of children, and those who protect these disgusting predators, should not be able to hide behind statutes of limitations or other time delaying tactics to avoid liability for these perverse and evil crimes.  Victims of these attacks live with their assaults for their entire lives, and any individual or organization that willingly allowed or turned a blind eye to these crimes needs to be held accountable.  This bill is about delivering justice, no matter how long it takes, and it would not be possible without the victims who have courageously shared their heartbreaking stories to advocate for this bill’s passage.”