AG Neronha releases report on RI clergy sex abuse

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office has released a long-awaited report on child sexual abuse within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence. The full report is included at the bottom of this article.

Investigation Overview

The investigation began in July 2019 and since then investigators have reviewed over 250,000 pages of Diocesan records dating back to 1950. These documents included personnel files, treatment records, internal investigations, and Church policies covering the “Review Period.”

Rhode Island does not have a grand jury reporting statute. Because of that, investigators could not compel sworn testimony from Church officials or force full document production through a grand jury. Instead, the review relied on voluntary cooperation under a July 22, 2019 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by Bishop Thomas J. Tobin and the Attorney General.

Diocese Cooperation and Lack of Cooperation

While the Diocese provided many records, cooperation had limits. Investigators faced delays in receiving documents. Church officials repeatedly refused requests to make key personnel available for interviews. These individuals were responsible for handling allegations of child sexual abuse.

Despite these obstacles, investigators uncovered decades of clergy sexual abuse. The report details inaction, concealment, and denial by Diocesan leadership, including bishops.

Credibly Accused Clergy and Victims

The report identifies 75 clergy members deemed “credibly accused” of sexually abusing children. This includes:

• 61 Diocesan priests and deacons
• 13 members of religious orders
• 1 extern priest

More than 300 victims were reportedly abused during the Review Period. Twenty of the 75 clergy members had not been publicly identified by the Diocese at the time of the report’s release.

A “credible allegation,” as defined in the MOU, means there is a reasonable basis to believe the abuse more likely than not occurred, according to the Attorney General.

Destruction of Records

Investigators found evidence that confidential files were routinely destroyed after a priest’s death, unless litigation was pending. This practice raised concerns about transparency and accountability in the Diocese.

Arrests and Indictments

As a result of the investigation:

• John Petrocelli, James Silva, and Kevin Fisette were arrested and indicted on child molestation or sexual assault charges and are awaiting trial.
• Edward Kelley was arrested, but was found incompetent to stand trial in 2022 and later died.
• In 2021, James Jackson of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter, who served at St. Mary’s Parish in Providence, was arrested for possession of child pornography. He pleaded guilty in 2023 and was sentenced to six years in federal prison with five years of supervised release. His name was later added to the Diocese’s Credibly Accused List.

Trends in Clergy Sexual Abuse

The report shows that clergy sexual abuse in Rhode Island peaked in the 1960s and 1970s and declined over the years. The most recent documented case within the Diocese reportedly occurred in 2011. While additional allegations have surfaced in recent years, they concern abuse that allegedly occurred decades ago.