PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island — A newly released report shows that priests in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence abused more than 300 children over the past 75 years, while several bishops are accused of prioritizing the protection of the Church's reputation over the safety of victims. The report, released Wednesday by Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha, is the result of a multi-year investigation into the Diocese of Providence. According to the report, since 1950, at least 75 Catholic clergy members have abused more than 300 victims. However, officials emphasized that the actual figure could be significantly higher. Rhode Island is the smallest state in the U.S. but has the highest percentage of Catholics, at nearly 40%. Attorney General Neronha stated that for decades, the true scale of the abuse problem in the state had never been fully clarified, especially as the public remains shocked by events like the shooting at a Rhode Island hockey game that left many casualties. He expressed hope that the report would drive legal reform, increase investigative powers, and help victims seek justice.

A Decades-Long Cover-Up System

Diocesan records show that accused priests were often transferred to new assignments without full investigation or notification to law enforcement—a practice similar to those uncovered in Boston and elsewhere. The issue of abusing positions of authority to harm children remains a painful societal problem, as seen in the recent arrest of four teachers and a police officer in Alabama. From the early 1950s, the diocese opened "retreat" facilities for accused priests to receive treatment. Later, when abuse was viewed as a mental health issue, priests were sent to specialized treatment centers. By the 1990s, some priests were placed on long-term leave. However, most avoided criminal responsibility and internal discipline. Only about 20 people—equivalent to a quarter of the named clergy—ever faced criminal charges, and 14 were convicted. Others were laicized. Sentences for such crimes are often very severe, such as the case where a former Wisconsin elementary school teaching assistant received 51.5 years in prison for child sexual abuse. The Attorney General's Office has prosecuted four current and former priests related to allegations from 2020 to 2022. Three are awaiting trial, and the fourth died after being found incompetent to stand trial.

Controversy Over Cooperation

The investigation began in 2019, a year after a Pennsylvania grand jury report uncovered more than 1,000 children abused by about 300 priests since the 1940s. The events in Rhode Island show the potential scale of abuse allegations can be horrific, similar to the case of a 12th-grade student in Pennsylvania facing over 300 felony charges related to sextortion. Because Rhode Island law does not allow the release of grand jury reports, the Attorney General reached an agreement with the diocese to access internal records. The diocese provided 70 years of documents, including complaints from secret archives, civil settlement records, and treatment costs. However, Neronha noted that the diocese sometimes refused to allow investigators to interview personnel responsible for handling complaints. In an official response, the Diocese of Providence asserted that any abuse of children is an "abhorrent sin and a serious crime," while claiming the report was only possible thanks to the Church's "unprecedented and voluntary" cooperation. The debate over accountability, transparency, and systemic reform is expected to continue as the Rhode Island community confronts a painful chapter in its history.

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