A comprehensive investigation by Rhode Island's Attorney General has uncovered that approximately 75 Catholic priests sexually abused more than 300 children over seven decades. The report reveals the diocese repeatedly failed to protect children by transferring accused clergy to new positions without proper investigation or law enforcement notification.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Rhode Island’s Attorney General has released findings from a sweeping investigation revealing that roughly 75 Catholic priests sexually abused over 300 children spanning seven decades beginning in 1950, with officials warning the actual extent of abuse may be far greater.
Attorney General Peter Neronha, whose office launched the diocesan investigation in 2019, made the findings public Wednesday.
Neronha stated that church officials could take additional steps to combat child sexual abuse. However, diocesan leadership has disputed the report’s findings, asserting that no “credibly accused clergy in active ministry” currently serve.
The investigation characterized church documentation as “damning,” finding that diocesan officials routinely failed to implement adequate safeguards protecting children from sexual abuse. Although clergy misconduct has received widespread attention, Wednesday’s report marked the first comprehensive look at the extent of abuse within Rhode Island.
Investigators found the diocese frequently reassigned accused clergy members to different parishes without conducting thorough investigations of allegations or notifying police authorities. Similar patterns have emerged in investigations conducted in Boston, Philadelphia and other locations.
The Diocese of Providence established a “spiritual retreat-style facility” during the early 1950s, where multiple accused priests were temporarily housed with plans for their eventual return to ministry. This approach later shifted toward placing accused clergy in formal treatment facilities after officials determined abuse might result from psychological disorders.
Investigators criticized the diocese’s “overreliance and misplaced faith” in these treatment facilities as “absurdly Pollyannaish” at minimum.
During the 1990s, accused clergy members were occasionally granted sabbatical leave.
Criminal charges were filed against only 20 individuals — roughly 25% of the clergy members identified in the investigation — with 14 receiving convictions. An additional 12 priests were laicized or removed from clerical status.
Neronha’s office has filed sexual abuse charges against four current and former priests for incidents occurring between 2020 and 2022.
Three defendants remain pending trial. The fourth priest passed away in 2022 after being ruled mentally incompetent for trial proceedings.
In an extensive statement, Diocese of Providence officials acknowledged “serious missteps” by previous church leadership while emphasizing their voluntary cooperation in sharing internal documents through a 2019 state agreement.
“The report presents this 75-year history in ways that might lead the reader to conclude these issues are an ongoing diocesan problem or that these are new revelations. They are not,” the statement said.
State investigators recommended multiple reforms for diocesan leadership to address continuing abuse concerns, including establishing clear investigation timelines and protocols.
The report emphasized the diocese must eliminate requirements for victims to undergo polygraph testing and stop declining to investigate third-party complaints regarding priests.
Additionally, Neronha urged Rhode Island legislators to modify state laws removing barriers for victims seeking justice. He specifically highlighted current statutes preventing grand jury reports from public release, which prevented his office from utilizing that investigative tool since he opposed keeping findings confidential.
Neronha also suggested extending the criminal statute of limitations for second-degree assault and expanding civil statute of limitations for certain child sexual abuse cases. Legislation addressing these recommendations is currently being introduced in the Democratic-controlled state legislature.