All articles tagged with #diocese of providence
A Rhode Island attorney general report concludes that about 75 clergy abused more than 300 children since 1950, with bishops protecting the church’s reputation; the investigation calls for reforms to boost investigative powers and accountability, while the Diocese of Providence disputes some findings.
A Rhode Island attorney general investigation found 75 Catholic clergy in the Diocese of Providence molested more than 300 children since 1950, with church leaders prioritizing the institution’s reputation over victims by transferring accused priests and offering treatment or sabbaticals rather than reporting to authorities. Only a fraction faced criminal charges, and many records were kept private for years under a 2019 agreement, prompting calls for reforms to strengthen investigations and ensure accountability and justice for survivors.
A multiyear, attorney general–led investigation found that dozens of priests in the Diocese of Providence abused hundreds of Rhode Island children over decades, aided by a secret archive and a pattern of minimal accountability as priests were transferred or sent to treatment rather than reported; only a fraction of cases led to charges, prompting calls for transparency, accountability, and systemic reform.
A 75-year review by Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha documents hundreds of child victims and 75 accused priests in the Diocese of Providence, finding that church leaders repeatedly moved offenders between parishes instead of notifying authorities. Based on 250,000 pages and 150 interviews, the report also highlights prosecutions and calls for reforms including a victim compensation program and extending the statute of limitations for abuse cases; the diocese acknowledges past missteps but says it now operates under stronger protections.