Rhode Island Clergy Sex Abuse Lawsuit
The Catholic Church in Rhode Island has a documented history of clergy abuse, especially in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence. Recently released records, court filings, and allegations highlight a pattern of abuse and cover-ups by church officials, allowing predatory priests, bishops, and other clergy members to abuse countless children. If you or a loved one experienced sexual abuse as a child by a Rhode Island clergy member, Helping Survivors can help.
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Author: Kathryn Kosmides
Survivor Advocate
- In Rhode Island, at least 60 clergy members in the Diocese of Providence have received credible accusations of child sexual abuse, but many survivors have been time-barred from taking legal action under current state law.
- As of 2019, Rhode Island law allows survivors of childhood sexual abuse until their 53rd birthday to file civil lawsuits against the perpetrators of the abuse, but only seven years to sue the institutions that enabled the abuse, like the Church.
- An experienced clergy sexual abuse attorney can help you navigate Rhode Island’s legal landscape to seek justice for abuse.
Overview of Sexual Abuse Allegations
The Catholic Church in Rhode Island has faced widespread allegations of abuse by clergy members since the mid-20th century, and the Diocese of Providence alone has had at least 60 bishops, priests, and other clergy members credibly accused of abuse. Several former priests in the Diocese have been indicted and even convicted on child sexual abuse charges, while others have quietly settled abuse claims against them outside of court with the Church’s help. Abuse by clergy members can include grooming, molestation, rape, and more, and the Church has been found time and time again to cover up reports of abuse and silence vicitms.
Since Pennsylvania’s bombshell 2018 grand jury report identifying hundreds of Catholic clergy members accused of sexual abuse, many states have followed suit in working to identify abusers in the Church and compensate survivors for what they endured. Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha has been compiling a report on the extent of clergy sex abuse in the state for years, and the report is anticipated to be released in the summer of 2025. In the meantime, Rhode Island lawmakers are reconsidering legislation to eliminate the statute of limitations on child sexual abuse lawsuits against perpetrators and enabling institutions alike.
Legal Rights & Options for Survivors Impacted by Sexual Abuse
Under Rhode Island’s Sexual Assault Victims Bill of Rights, a number of rights are guaranteed to all victims of sexual assault and abuse, even if they choose not to participate in the criminal justice system or obtain a medical examination. Survivors of sexual assault in Rhode Island have:
- The right to obtain a medical examination and sexual assault evidence kit
- The right to choose whether to report the SA to law enforcement
- The right to consult with a victim advocate
- The right to pursue victim compensation
File a Civil Lawsuit
Survivors of childhood sexual abuse by clergy have the right to file civil lawsuits against both the individual clergy member who abused them and the Church itself for failing to protect them. Civil lawsuits allow survivors to recover financial compensation for the emotional, medical, and financial harm they endured as a result of the abuse. However, many states give survivors deadlines for filing these lawsuits. In Rhode Island, the civil child sexual abuse statute of limitations was extended to the victim’s 53rd birthday in 2019. Unfortunately, this law only applies to civil suits against individual perpetrators, not enabling institutions like the Church.
Report Abuse to Oversight Agencies
In Rhode Island, all citizens are considered mandatory reporters. This means that any individual with reasonable suspicion of child abuse, including child sexual abuse, must report it to the state’s child abuse hotline within 24 hours of discovery. The hotline can be reached at 1-800-RI-CHILD (1-800-742-4453), and you may call anonymously. Additionally, you can report the abuse directly to the Church at some Diocese–for the Diocese of Providence, Rhode Island, you can contact the Office of Compliance to report abuse by clergy.
Report Sexual Abuse to Law Enforcement
Reporting sexual abuse to law enforcement is crucial to initiate any criminal investigation, and these reports can also serve as evidence in civil cases. Victims of Rhode Island clergy abuse can contact the Rhode Island State Police at 401-764-0142 to report abuse.
How a Clergy Sex Abuse Attorney Can Help
Sexual abuse attorneys and legal teams work not just to help victims of abuse secure justice and compensation but to guide them on the path to healing through sensitive, trauma-informed practices. Attorneys can assist you with gathering evidence, securing expert testimony, accessing hard-to-reach church records that may corroborate your claim, filing documents on time, and providing emotional support throughout the legal process. By working with an experienced lawyer, you may be able to recover damages for medical expenses, therapy costs, lost wages, and more.
Most clergy sex abuse attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you won’t pay anything for their services unless they win your case.
Want To Speak With A Lawyer?
If you or a loved one endured sexual abuse by a priest, bishop, deacon, or other clergy member in Rhode Island, you are not alone, and you have rights and options for seeking justice. At Helping Survivors, we offer confidential legal support to survivors of sexual abuse, empowering them to understand their rights and options after experiencing harm. By providing resources for support, educational content, and legal introductions to our partner law firms, we aim to empower survivors to assert their rights in full confidence.
There is no right or wrong answer after experiencing sexual abuse, especially as a child. However, if you decide you would like to take legal action against the perpetrator of the abuse and the institutions that enabled it, Helping Survivors can help. Our legal partners work with survivors to file civil lawsuits against the wealthy institutions that enabled the abuse, aiming to compensate victims for their suffering. Get legal help here today.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the deadline to file a clergy abuse claim in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island’s current statute of limitations for childhood sex abuse claims is 35 years from the time the victim reaches adulthood, meaning victims have until their 53rd birthday to file a lawsuit.
Who can be held responsible in a clergy sexual abuse lawsuit?
You may be able to sue multiple parties in a civil child sexual abuse lawsuit, depending on the circumstances of the abuse. It may be possible to take legal action against the individual perpetrator and the institutions or organizations that enabled or covered up the abuse, such as the Catholic Church.
How much compensation can a survivor of clergy abuse receive?
In 2019, the Diocese of Providence revealed that it had paid over $21 million in settlements to survivors of sexual abuse and misconduct by clergy members. Some clergy sex abuse cases can result in hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars in compensation, but there is no guaranteed amount you can recover. Your compensation will depend on the extent, severity, and length of the abuse you endured, the lengths the Church went to cover it up, and the long-term effects the abuse had on you.
Can I remain anonymous if I file a lawsuit against the Church?
In Rhode Island, it is sometimes possible to file a sexual abuse lawsuit anonymously or under a pseudonym. To file a lawsuit anonymously, the court must grant you a request for anonymity, which is not uncommon in cases involving child sexual abuse.
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