St. Aloysius Home Sex Abuse Lawsuit
If you or someone you love experienced sexual abuse at St. Aloysius Home in Rhode Island, you have legal rights and options for holding the responsible parties accountable. Helping Survivors can connect you with an experienced attorney for legal representation.
- The St. Aloysius Home was a Roman Catholic orphanage in Rhode Island that closed in 1994 amid numerous allegations of sexual abuse by staff.
- Under Rhode Island’s new child sexual abuse lawsuit lookback window, survivors of abuse from as long as 35 years ago can now file civil lawsuits against the perpetrators and enablers of their abuse until July 2028.
- Survivors of abuse by clergy at the St. Aloysius Home have legal rights and options for seeking justice and compensation.
Since Rhode Island lawmakers opened a new two-year lookback window for child sexual abuse lawsuits, dozens of survivors are coming forward against Rhode Island institutions for allegedly allowing clergy members to abuse them as children. One of the facilities most frequently named in new lawsuits is the St. Aloysius Home, a now-closed orphanage run by the Diocese of Providence.
If you or a loved one experienced clergy abuse in Rhode Island, including at the St. Aloysius Home, you have legal rights and options for seeking accountability, even if the abuse occurred years or decades ago.
What Was the St. Aloysius Home?
St. Aloysius Home was a Catholic orphanage for neglected children operated by the Diocese of Providence in Smithfield, Rhode Island. The Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth, and Families began sending boys in its custody to the home in the 1970s, but the arrangement ended in 1993 after 16 boys reported sexual abuse. The home closed in 1994 amid further abuse allegations.
The Rhode Island Attorney General’s office spent over six years investigating clergy abuse across the state and filed a lengthy report documenting the history of misconduct in the Diocese of Providence. The report’s release spurred Rhode Island lawmakers to enact a lookback window in June 2026 for childhood sexual abuse lawsuits against institutions and supervisors for enabling or covering up sexual abuse.
One of the first cases filed under this window was brought by David Marchand, who alleges multiple people, including former director Father Robert McIntyre, sexually abused him at the now-closed St. Aloysius Home.
Meet Our Trusted Legal Partners
For over 50 years, Milberg has held powerful defendants accountable — let us fight for you.
Overview of Sexual Abuse Allegations at St. Aloysius Home
As of late July 2026, over 50 lawsuits have been filed by victims of alleged Catholic clergy sexual abuse against the Diocese of Providence within the first month of the lookback window.
In court filings, St. Aloysius Home has been named as the site of the abuse more than any other facility.
Six lawsuits were brought on behalf of men who resided at St. Aloysius as children between 1969 and 1989. Four of the suits accuse former director Father Robert J. McIntyre of rape. Meanwhile, McIntyre and Father Rene Guertin, a previous director, are accused of abusing more than a dozen children combined.
Father Robert J. McIntyre
Father Robert J. McIntyre was director of the St. Aloysius Home from 1978 until its closure in 1994. At least two lawsuits filed in the 1990s alleged McIntyre was responsible for covering up abuse at St. Aloysius Home and conspiring to prevent proper reporting procedures.
In the following years, other former residents came forward, accusing McIntyre of not only enabling clergy abuse but also actively committing it. Between 1993 and 2021, the Diocese reportedly received over a dozen child sexual abuse allegations against McIntyre, who died in 2020.
Father Rene Guertin
Father Rene Guertin was in charge of the St. Aloysius Home from 1946 to 1969. He retired in 1980 and died in 1982. He reportedly sexually abused two girls at the home in the 1960s. Other complaints included allegations of physical and sexual abuse of multiple boys. According to records from the Rhode Island Attorney General, the Diocese may have been aware of Guertin’s misconduct as early as 1973.
Rhode Island Sexual Abuse Statute of Limitations
In June 2026, Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee signed legislation expanding the state’s statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse claims. The new law creates a two-year revival window for certain claims that were previously time-barred.
The window is retroactive for up to 35 years and is open for two years, from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028. During that period, eligible victims may be able to bring certain civil lawsuits against individuals, institutions, organizations, or other parties connected to alleged childhood sexual abuse.
How A Sexual Abuse Attorney Can Help
At Helping Survivors, we partner with experienced sexual abuse and assault attorneys at Milberg to provide legal guidance and representation to survivors. Our legal partners can investigate the abuse, gather evidence, secure testimony, obtain records from the diocese, and build the strongest possible case on your behalf.
With the help of an experienced attorney, survivors of Rhode Island clergy abuse can pursue compensation for a wide range of damages, including medical expenses, therapy costs, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and more.
Meet The Milberg Team
Marc Grossman
Senior Partner, Milberg PLLC
30+ years of complex litigation experience. Marc is recognized by Lawdragon 500 as one of America’s leading litigators. He’s committed to institutional accountability and survivor support.
Melinda Maxson
Senior Counsel, Milberg PLLC
20+ years representing survivors. Melinda has been involved in landmark cases exposing systemic failures in institutions, including her work on the T.T. v. Roblox case. She believes survivors deserve every legal avenue to seek accountability.
Legal Rights & Options For Survivors of Sexual Abuse at St. Aloysius Home
Survivors of childhood sexual abuse at St. Aloysius Home may have legal options even if the abuse occurred decades ago.
File a Civil Lawsuit
Survivors have the right to pursue a civil lawsuit against the individual who harmed them and the institution that hired or overlooked abuse by a clergy member. To file a civil lawsuit for clergy abuse in Rhode Island, the first step is to consult with an attorney with experience handling sexual abuse cases.
Report the Abuse
Reporting child sexual abuse to law enforcement or oversight agencies is not necessary to file a civil lawsuit, but it can create a useful paper trail and potentially lead to criminal charges against the perpetrator.
In Rhode Island, all citizens are mandatory reporters for child abuse. You can report abuse to any of the following agencies:
- Rhode Island child abuse hotline: 1-800-RI-CHILD (1-800-742-4453).
- SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests) Crisis Line: 1(877) 762-7432
- Diocese of Providence Reporting Line: (401) 278-4500
- Diocese of Providence Office of Compliance
- State Police Special Victims Unit’s dedicated clergy abuse hotline: 401-764-0142
Notably, the Rhode Island Sexual Assault Victim Bill of Rights gives victims of crimes the right to seek reimbursement for certain losses from the Crime Victim Compensation Program. However, the compensation is generally limited compared to the range of damages you can seek in a civil lawsuit.
Experience That Delivers Results
Over $50 Billion Recovered
Milberg has recovered more than $50 billion clients over nearly 60 years, holding institutions accountable across complex, high-stakes cases. That track record of institutional accountability now extends to survivors of sexual abuse in detention centers, prisons, healthcare settings, and other facilities.
Institutional Abuse Specialists
Milberg’s Sexual Abuse Practice Group, led by Senior Partner Marc Grossman (30+ years experience, Lawdragon 500 recognized) brings expertise in facility-based abuse, systemic failures, and corporate neglect.
Trial-Ready Attorneys
Milberg’s attorneys aren’t afraid to take cases to trial. While many firms settle early, Milberg’s team of experienced trial lawyers is prepared to pursue your claim all the way through litigation if a fair settlement isn’t reached.
Comprehensive Resource Access
Milberg maintains coast-to-coast offices, partnerships with access to expert investigators, medical professionals, and specialized consultants—all committed to building the strongest possible case for you.
Contingency Representation
You never pay out of pocket. We work entirely on a contingency basis, meaning you owe nothing unless we recover compensation. Your financial burden never stands between you and justice.
Want To Speak With A Lawyer?
