Report: 75 Clergy, Over 300 Victims in Rhode Island Abuse Investigation
The Spin
Narrative A
The Rhode Island Diocese systematically concealed child sexual abuse for over 70 years — shuffling predatory priests between parishes while dismissing survivors as not credible. Church leaders prioritized protecting their reputation and finances over children's lives, maintaining secret archives and using euphemisms to hide heinous crimes. Even recent cases show the diocese required three separate abuse reports before removing a priest from ministry around children. For survivors, however, this report is a reckoning, helping to give them their power back.
Narrative B
The diocese voluntarily granted unprecedented access to records and cooperated fully for over six years, revealing no recent abuse and no credible accusations against current clergy. The report applies today's standards to decisions made 40 years ago — when medical professionals and prosecutors also believed treatment could address abuse. Effective reforms implemented over 30 years ago have proven overwhelmingly successful. The Attorney General's report is being used as a political tool to sway legislators to expand civil statute-of-limitations laws.