Rhode Island AG Finds Decades of Priest Abuse and Church Failures
A 75-year review by Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha documents hundreds of child victims and 75 accused priests in the Diocese of Providence, finding that church leaders repeatedly moved offenders between parishes instead of notifying authorities. Based on 250,000 pages and 150 interviews, the report also highlights prosecutions and calls for reforms including a victim compensation program and extending the statute of limitations for abuse cases; the diocese acknowledges past missteps but says it now operates under stronger protections.