Officials Unearth Rampant Alleged Child Sexual Abuse By Clergy In Rhode Island

Catholic clergy sexually abused over 300 victims in a Rhode Island diocese from 1950 to 2011, a new state report alleged.

Democratic Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha alleged that authorities identified 75 Catholic clergy members from the Diocese of Providence in an investigation that began in 2019, according to a Wednesday press release. Authorities brought charges against three men, John Petrocelli, James Silva and Kevin Fisette.

Petrocelli served as an assistant pastor at Holy Family Parish in Woonsocket sometime from November 1981 to October 1990 and is accused of molesting three boys who were all under the age of 14. Silva allegedly molested a boy under 14 years old multiple times while serving as the Interim Director and Assistant Director at the diocese’s Office of Ministerial Formation from 1989 to 1990.

Fisette allegedly committed first-degree child molestation on a minor while working as a deacon at Our Lady of Victory Parish in Hopkinton and as a Rhode Island Hospital chaplain. A fourth suspect, Edward Kelley, was found incompetent to face trial in February 2022 after a grand jury indicted him on sexual assault charges. Kelley, a former priest from Smithfield, died the same year and his charges were dismissed. (RELATED: Influencer Learns Hard Way That Playing Detective Over College Murders Comes With Price: $10 Million And Salted Wounds)

Petrocelli, Silva and Fisette are all currently awaiting trial.

The investigation alleged that the diocese failed to appropriately answer and report complaints of alleged child sexual abuse. Higher officials allegedly sent accused clergy to other parishes or “treatment” before letting them resume active service. A total of 39 clergy members were transferred five or more times, 21 were removed to treatment centers, and 12 were dispatched on spiritual retreats or sabbaticals, according to data from the report.

The diocese allegedly received 65 complaints from 1990 to 1999, but only referred five to law enforcement. Between 2000 and 2009, the diocese received 46 complaints, but only referred 23 to law enforcement, and between 2010 and 2019, the diocese received 55 complaints, but referred 47 of those complaints to law enforcement, according to the report.

The most prevalent age range for abuse was allegedly 11 to 14 years old with a 5:1 ratio of male to female victims.

Neronha said the diocese’s alleged refusal to work with authorities “perpetuated this crisis,” according to the statement.

“[T]he 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.

“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.

Rhode Island is the state with the highest per capita Catholic population at almost 40%, according to The Associated Press.

The Daily Caller contacted Neronha’s office, who did not immediately comment on the investigation.