Child sexual abuse

Report: 75 Clergy, Over 300 Victims in Rhode Island Abuse Investigation

Did the Rhode Island Diocese systematically conceal abuse or implement effective reforms over decades?

Published MAR 5

Report: 75 Clergy, Over 300 Victims in Rhode Island Abuse Investigation

Story

Above: Parishioners attend Sunday Mass at St. Mary's Parish in Bristol, Rhode Island on Sept. 1, 2019. Image credit: Erin Clark/Boston Globe/Getty Images

The Facts

Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha released a 300-page report on Wednesday, documenting alleged child sexual abuse in the Catholic Diocese of Providence spanning from 1950 to 2011. The investigation identified 75 "credibly accused" clergy and more than 300 victims.
Rhode Island Office of the Attorney General
The New York Times
OSV News
According to the report, the Diocese of Providence transferred at least 30 accused priests to new assignments at least five times each, a practice called "priest shuffling." Between 1990 and 1999, the diocese reported only five of 65 abuse complaints to law enforcement, compared with 47 of 55 between 2010 and 2019.
Rhode Island Current
The New York Times
Insurance Journal
Only 20 of the 75 accused clergy, approximately 26%, faced criminal charges, and only 14 were convicted. The Attorney General's office charged four current or former priests during the investigation, with three awaiting trial as of the report's release.
New York Post
Democracy Now
In response, the Diocese of Providence said the report reflects its voluntary cooperation under a 2019 memorandum of understanding and that longstanding child protection policies have proven "overwhelmingly effective." The diocese emphasized no evidence of recent abuse by clergy was found.
OSV News
Insurance Journal
Bishop Bruce Lewandowski, however, apologized to abuse survivors, stating "the church failed them" and their abusers "robbed them of their innocence." The diocese noted the report focuses on historical cases from the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s that have been previously documented.
Diocese of Providence on Youtube
Rhode Island Current
OSV News
Attorney General Neronha called for legislative reforms, including extending the statute of limitations for sexual assault cases and creating a compensation fund for victims. The diocese opposed some proposals, warning they could lead to bankruptcy as occurred in other dioceses.
Rhode Island Current
The New York Times
Insurance Journal

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

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.

The Providence Journal

WPRI 12

PBS News

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.

Diocese of Providence

National Catholic Register