Rhode Island Government and Courts

Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha’s long‑awaited report found at least 75 Catholic clergy in the Diocese of Providence sexually abused more than 300 children since 1950 and describes “damning” diocesan records and a secret archive showing bishops routinely transferred accused priests and relied on spiritual retreats, psychiatric treatment centers, sabbaticals and leaves to return abusers to ministry. The report notes only about 20 priests were ever criminally charged (14 convicted, roughly a dozen laicized), says Neronha charged four priests in cases from 2020–2022, urges reforms — including ending required polygraph tests for victims, investigating third‑party complaints, setting investigative timelines and changing state law to allow grand jury reports to be public — and the diocese, while stressing it voluntarily shared files and that no credibly accused clergy remain in active ministry, says the report spans a 75‑year history.