Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Neronha published a 300-page report on Wednesday detailing child sexual abuse by Catholic clergy in the Diocese of Providence. The investigation identified 75 credibly accused clergy members who abused more than 300 children between 1950 and 2011. This includes 61 diocesan priests and deacons, 13 members of religious orders and one extern priest.

The yearslong probe, which began in 2019 under a memorandum of understanding with the diocese, reviewed more than 250,000 pages of records including personnel files, internal investigations and treatment reports. Investigators contacted nearly 150 survivors and established a hotline for additional reports. The report faulted the diocese for repeatedly prioritizing the protection of priests and the church's reputation over child safety. Diocesan leaders often failed to report allegations to civil authorities, conducted inadequate internal investigations and allowed accused priests to continue in ministry, sometimes at other parishes.

Neronha described the findings as revealing a "sordid and shameful" pattern of abuse and obfuscation that persisted under bishops from the 1950s onward. The investigation led to criminal charges against four priests for historical abuse: John Petrocelli, indicted for molesting three boys under 14 between 1981 and 1990; James Silva, for abusing one boy in 1989-1990; Kevin Fisette, for child molestation in 1981-1982; and Edward Kelley, charged with sexual assault but deemed incompetent before his death. Three of the cases await trial.

The Diocese of Providence cooperated by providing records but declined in-person interviews with officials and delayed some document requests. In response to the report, the diocese acknowledged child sexual abuse by clergy as an "abhorrent sin and crime" and past mishandling but emphasized that no evidence emerged of recent abuse, no credible accusations exist against current clergy and the diocese met all legal reporting obligations. It noted that nearly 97% of cases occurred before 1997 and highlighted reforms implemented over 30 years ago, including zero-tolerance policies, background checks and victim outreach programs.

The report comes after similar investigations in other states, prompted by a 2018 Pennsylvania grand jury finding over 300 abusive priests. Rhode Island, with the nation's highest per capita Catholic population, had faced prior survivor lawsuits and settlements but lacked a public accounting until now. Officials stressed the documented victims and priests likely understate the true scope, as many survivors never come forward.