A new state report says Rhode Island authorities uncovered widespread alleged child sexual abuse by Catholic clergy spanning decades, shedding light on hundreds of victims, dozens of accused priests and deacons, and institutional failures that allowed abuse to continue. The investigation detailed who was accused, how complaints were handled, and recommendations aimed at delivering justice to survivors and preventing future harm.
The report alleges that more than 300 people were sexually abused by clergy in the Diocese of Providence between 1950 and 2011, based on an inquiry that opened in 2019. Investigators identified roughly 75 clergy members connected to those allegations and have brought criminal charges against three men who are now awaiting trial. Several accused served in local parishes and diocesan roles, and the allegations span decades of ministry and different church positions.
Among the named suspects, John Petrocelli is accused of molesting three boys under the age of 14 while assigned to Holy Family Parish in Woonsocket during the 1980s. James Silva is accused of repeatedly abusing a boy under 14 while he worked in the diocese’s Office of Ministerial Formation around 1989 to 1990. Kevin Fisette is alleged to have committed first-degree child molestation while serving as a deacon and hospital chaplain, and his case is also pending in court.
A fourth man, Edward Kelley, was indicted but later found incompetent to stand trial and died in 2022, which led to his charges being dismissed. The investigation paints a pattern of movement rather than accountability, with some accused clergy shuffled between assignments or sent to treatment and then allowed back into ministry. Survivors and investigators say that those internal responses often avoided reporting to secular authorities and kept allegations out of public scrutiny.
The report found that 39 clergy were transferred five or more times, 21 were sent to treatment centers, and 12 were placed on retreats or sabbaticals instead of being referred to law enforcement. Across different decades the diocese referred only a fraction of complaints to police or prosecutors, which critics say helped perpetuate abuse. From 1990 to 1999 the diocese received 65 complaints but referred only five to authorities, while between 2000 and 2009 it received 46 and referred 23; between 2010 and 2019 the referral rate rose but gaps remained.
Investigators also reported a pronounced pattern in victim demographics, with the most common age range for alleged abuse between 11 and 14 years old and a roughly five to one ratio of male to female victims. That profile highlights how the crisis affected a particular slice of the community and how long it took for many survivors to come forward. Officials emphasized that even with improvements in recent years, past institutional choices left long shadows for those harmed and for families seeking answers.
Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha publicly criticized the diocese’s stance during the probe and described repeated friction between his office and diocesan representatives. “[T]the Diocese kept the abuse secret; they hid and they obfuscated. And while the situation has improved in recent years, there remains work to be done. When my Office asked Diocesan representatives to engage in the investigatory process in person, they repeatedly refused. When my Office requested supplemental documents, they frequently dragged their feet. Their tendency to reflexively turn inward is part of what perpetuated this crisis, and I’m not sure if all of the lessons have been learned,” he said.
He also urged concrete changes to help survivors access justice and compensation, calling for programs and legal reforms aimed at holding institutions accountable. “To this day, survivors of Diocesan clergy abuse continue to come forward, and they deserve justice. As such, we’ve made targeted recommendations to help them obtain that justice, including a recommendation that the Diocese fund an independent compensation program, as many other dioceses have, as well as a recommendation for the General Assembly to expand the statute of limitations for civil claims against institutional defendants. For survivors, and for our future, I urge the Diocese and the General Assembly to implement these and our other proposals. This must never happen again,” Neronha continued.
The report notes that Rhode Island has one of the highest per capita Catholic populations in the country, a fact that adds weight to the local impact and the number of people affected. Survivors continue to come forward and civil and criminal processes are ongoing, while the state recommendations aim to provide new paths for compensation and accountability. The investigation underscores the long reach of institutional choices and the challenge of rebuilding trust once patterns of secrecy and transfer are exposed.
