Rhode Island AG Report Details Decades of Child Sexual Abuse in Providence Diocese

The Rhode Island Attorney General's office has released a report detailing findings from a multiyear investigation into child sexual abuse within the Catholic Diocese of Providence. The report states that diocesan records identify 75 clergy members accused of sexually abusing more than 300 victims since 1950, with officials noting the actual numbers are likely higher. The investigation, which began in 2019, examined diocesan practices over decades and has resulted in recent criminal charges against four priests.

Diocesan records identify 75 clergy members accused of sexually abusing more than 300 victims since 1950, with officials noting the actual numbers are likely higher.

Investigation Scope and Process

Attorney General Peter Neronha launched the investigation in 2019. Because Rhode Island law does not allow grand jury reports to become public, the Attorney General's office entered an agreement with the Diocese of Providence to access internal records.

• The diocese provided hundreds of thousands of records spanning approximately 70 years, described internally as a "secret archive." These files contained internal investigations, civil settlement records, and treatment costs.
• Attorney General Neronha stated the diocese cooperated by providing records but refused requests to interview personnel responsible for overseeing abuse investigations and responses.
• The report notes several limitations: an unknown number of victims likely died before coming forward, some church records were lost or destroyed, and victims commonly take decades to report abuse.

Report Findings on Diocesan Practices

The report describes a pattern of diocesan responses to abuse allegations, based on the reviewed records.

• Internal Handling: The report states church leaders prioritized minimizing scandal and maintained internal files to conceal information.
• Transfers and Treatment: Records indicate accused priests were often transferred to new assignments without a thorough investigation or contact with law enforcement. The diocese frequently sent accused priests to treatment centers, a practice the report characterized as an "overreliance and misplaced faith" in such facilities.
• Sabbatical and Leave: By the 1990s, some accused priests were placed on sabbatical leave. The report cites the case of priest Robert Carpentier, who was accused in 1992, sent to a treatment center, went on sabbatical, and remained on leave until his retirement in 2006.
• Lack of Accountability: The report concludes the majority of cases involving accused priests did not result in accountability from law enforcement or the diocese.

Case Outcomes and Specific Examples

The report provides statistical outcomes and details specific cases from the records.

• Overall Statistics: Of the 75 clergy identified, 20 faced criminal charges, resulting in 14 convictions. Twelve accused clergy were laicized or dismissed from the clerical state.
• Case of Monsignor John Allard: A survivor reported being abused by Monsignor John Allard in 1981. A diocesan review board deemed the allegation credible, but then-Bishop Thomas Tobin asked the Vatican to allow Allard to retire without removal from the priesthood, which was granted.
• Case of Father Francis Santilli: Father Francis Santilli, who served on the diocese's review board, received child sexual abuse complaints in 2014 and 2021. He stepped down from the board but remained in active ministry until his removal in 2022. The report notes, "Only the Diocese can explain why this plainly necessary action took so long."

Recent Legal Actions and Official Statements

• Recent Charges: The Attorney General's office has charged four current and former priests for alleged sexual abuse committed between 2020 and 2022. Three await trial; one died after being deemed incompetent to stand trial.
• Attorney General's Statement: In the report, Attorney General Neronha wrote the investigation was conducted "with a view toward offering transparency, accountability, and systemic reforms" to lessen the likelihood of future child sexual abuse. Neronha, who is Catholic, stated he sided with victims who argue not enough has been done to address the problem more than two decades after it was widely exposed.

The report follows a similar 2018 grand jury investigation in Pennsylvania. Rhode Island has the largest Catholic population per capita in the United States.