Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha recently revealed in a report that Catholic priests in Rhode Island preyed on hundreds of children for decades. The report also mentioned that these clergy were protected by bishops who were concerned about the church’s reputation.
The report, released Wednesday, March 4, comes after a multi-year investigation by the Catholic Diocese of Providence, Rhode Island.
Peter Neronha said: “If you’re the Diocese of Providence and you’re listening, this is a scandal that you have to own and you have to fix. We can’t slow down the solution and we can’t slow down justice,” as he hoped the explosive news would bring about some legal reforms that would speed up investigations into sexual abuse cases.
What did the investigation find?
An investigation by the Catholic Diocese of Providence found that up to 75 Catholic clergy had molested more than 300 victims since 1950. While this is the official figure, officials believe the death toll was much higher.
In response, the diocese acknowledged the scourge of child sexual abuse — particularly by clergy — but said the report reflected the church’s willingness to share internal records under a 2019 agreement with the state.
The diocese said: “The report presents this 75-year history in a way that could lead readers to conclude that these issues are an ongoing diocesan problem or that these are new revelations. They are not.”
He also dismissed the report’s findings, saying there were no “credibly accused clerics” on active duty.
Church records show the diocese transferred accused priests to new assignments without fully investigating complaints or contacting law enforcement, a practice uncovered in investigations in Boston, Philadelphia and elsewhere, the AP reported.
And as in other cities, the Diocese of Providence opened a “retreat-style facility” in the early 1950s for accused priests to seek treatment.
Later, when abuse was considered a mental health problem, priests were sent to more formal treatment centers.
An investigation was launched in 2019 after a report found that more than 1,000 children had been abused by 300 priests since the 1940s.
During the 1990s, priests facing accusations were sometimes placed on sabbatical and some avoided facing consequences.
The attorney general’s office has indicted four current and former priests accused of sexual abuse between 2020 and 2022. While three are still awaiting trial, one has died. In total, only 20 people faced criminal charges and only 14 were convicted. A dozen others were laicized or dismissed from clerical status.
