- Father Roger Belhumeur was accused of sexually abusing a teenage boy dozens of times from about 1969 to 1970 while serving at St. Rose of Lima Church in Warwick, RI.
- The boy’s father reportedly notified the Diocese in 1970, but Belhumeur remained in ministry until his retirement in 1994.
- A second individual later reported that Belhumeur repeatedly abused him as an altar boy in Newport during the 1970s.
Father Roger Belhumeur was a Diocese of Providence priest identified in the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Report on Child Sexual Abuse in the Diocese of Providence.
Who Was Roger Belhumeur?
Born on March 29, 1926, Roger Belhumeur was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Providence on May 27, 1961. During his ministry, he served at numerous Rhode Island parishes, including St. Rose of Lima Church in Warwick, St. Agnes Church in Providence, and St. Mary Church in Newport.
In addition to his parish assignments, Belhumeur held several leadership roles. He served two terms as vice president of the Priests’ Personnel Board, and was a member of both the Council of Priests and the College of Consultors.
Belhumeur retired in 1994 and died on September 28, 2010.
Father Roger Belhumeur’s Assignments
Father Roger Belhumeur served in the following assignments:
- St. Joseph College, Mountain View, California (1961–1962)
- Immaculate Conception Church, Cranston (1962–1963)
- Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, West Warwick (1963–1965)
- Our Lady of Providence Seminary, Warwick (1963–1973)
- St. Rose of Lima Church, Warwick (1965–1969)
- Immaculate Conception Church, Cranston (1969–1973)
- Mary, Immaculate Queen Novitiate, Newport (1973–1979)
- St. Agnes Church, Providence (1979–1991)
- St. Mary Church, Newport (1991–1994)
- Retired as Pastor Emeritus, St. Agnes Church, Providence (1994)
Allegations and Public Record
According to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Report, “Father Roger Belhumeur reportedly sexually assaulted a teenage boy approximately 30-40 times while working as the assistant pastor of St. Rose of Lima in Warwick. The alleged abuse lasted about a year, from 1969 to 1970, but stopped when the complainant’s father complained to the Diocese in May 1970. It does not appear that the Diocese relayed the allegations to law enforcement at the time.”
Despite this complaint, Belhumeur remained in ministry for over two decades before retiring in 1994.
In 2005, that same alleged victim reported the abuse directly to the Diocese. The alleged victim was “‘stunned’ to learn of his father’s 1970 letter. The Director of the Diocese’s Office of Education and Compliance, Robert McCarthy, told the alleged victim that he believed him, but that there was no need to interview Belhumeur because he was 80-years-old and ‘I don’t know if he’s got all his marbles.’” (Bishop Accountability)
Belhumeur allegedly repeatedly abused the victim at the rectory in St. Rose and within the church itself. Assaults are also alleged to have happened at a car wash, and in Arcadia State Park. Belhumeur also allegedly unsuccessful attempted to rape the victim at Immaculate Conception Church in Cranston.
Despite this determination, the allegations were reportedly not referred to law enforcement until 2018, after a review of diocesan records revealed no known notification to law enforcement. By that time, Belhumeur had died and could no longer be prosecuted.
The Rhode Island Attorney General’s report also details allegations from a second complainant, who reported in 2022 that Belhumeur repeatedly sexually abused him as an altar boy in Newport during the mid-1970s. Although Belhumeur was not formally assigned to St. Mary’s Parish in Newport at the time, the report states that he “frequently visited that parish to assist with mass.”
Father Roger Ernest Belhumeur died on September 28, 2010. He was publicly identified on the Diocese of Providence’s List of Credibly Accused Clergy.
For a more comprehensive history of the allegations against Father Roger Belhumeur, please see Appendix A of the Rhode Island Attorney General’s report.
If You Were Abused by Father Roger Belhumeur
Even though Father Roger Belhumeur is deceased, survivors may still have civil legal options against the Diocese who supervised his ministry.
At Andreozzi + Foote, we represent survivors of clergy and institutional sexual abuse in Rhode Island and nationwide.
Clergy sexual abuse is not just a matter of the past.
Abuse by clergy members is a well-documented issue that continues to affect communities across the country, highlighting the need for ongoing vigilance and accountability.
If you were abused by Father Roger Belhumeur or another member of the clergy, our trauma-informed attorneys are here to guide you with compassion through the civil process.
Our team takes a trauma-informed approach to every case, ensuring survivors are heard, supported, and empowered throughout the process.
Every consultation is free and completely confidential.
We encourage you to contact us today.
📞 (866) 311-8640
📧 info@vca.law
Image sources: Left: Father Roger E. Belhumeur, courtesy of Bishop Accountability & Rhode Island Catholic. Right, Roger Ernest Belhumeur, via his obituary. Background image: St. Rose of Lima Church (now Saints Rose and Clement Church), via Facebook.
