Dozens of Catholic priests molested hundreds of Rhode Island victims over decades, multiyear investigation reveals

By — Kimberlee Kruesi, Associated Press Kimberlee Kruesi, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Dozens of Catholic priests molested hundreds of Rhode Island victims over decades, multiyear investigation reveals Nation Mar 4, 2026 11:05 AM EST PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Catholic priests in Rhode Island preyed on hundreds of children for decades, getting away with sexual abuse largely due to a system where bishops prioritized minimizing scandal as the diocese maintained a secret archive to conceal the revelation of more victims. These findings were among the many sobering details released Wednesday as part of a multiyear investigation into the Catholic Diocese of Providence, Rhode Island, led by Attorney General Peter Neronha. READ MORE: Portugal church sex abuse study suggests there may be over 4,000 victims The report was designed to spark a "full reckoning" of the abuse that had long remained elusive inside the smallest state in the U.S., home to the country's largest Catholic population per capita, with nearly 40% of the state identifying as Catholic. Neronha, himself a Catholic, sided with the victims who have argued that not enough has yet been done to address the problem, more than two decades after it was widely exposed in the nearby Boston diocese. "Not until now has there been a comprehensive review of this painful chapter in our state's history, with a view toward offering transparency, accountability, and systemic reforms that will, I hope, lessen the likelihood of future child sexual abuse, not just within the Diocese of Providence, but in our community as a whole," Neronha wrote in the report. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Enter your email address Subscribe Form error message goes here. Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm. The investigation found that 75 Catholic clergy m...