Key Takeaways
- Father Joseph McCra was publicly identified in the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 Report on Child Sex Abuse in the Diocese of Providence.
- According to the Report, McCra allegedly sexually abused at least two boys and attempted to molest others.
- The Report states that Bishop Joseph McVinney repeatedly returned McCra to ministry despite multiple reports of child sexual abuse.
Who Was Father Joseph McCra?
Father Joseph G. McCra was a priest in the Diocese of Providence who served in several Rhode Island parishes between 1932 and his death in 1964.
Despite having multiple allegations of abuse made against him, McCra remained in ministry for years. He is identified on the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 Report but was not included on the Diocese of Providence’s list until 2023.
According to the Report, “The Diocese failed to include Father McCra on its List of Credibly Accused Clergy until early 2023, after a representative of this Office contacted the Diocese in response to a recently-disclosed document containing handwritten references to McCra having been ‘accused in 1951 of molesting boys at his villa at a lake in Pascoag – relieved of duties.’ The Diocese subsequently provided McCra’s files, which provided the basis for this summary.” (Appendix A)
Father Joseph McCra Assignment History
According to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Report, McCra served at:
- 1932–1937: Christ the King Church, West Warwick
- 1937–1948: St. John Church, Warren
- 1948–1949: St. Lawrence Church, North Providence
- 1949–1951: Our Lady of Good Help Church, Burrillville
- 1951–1952: Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Providence
- 1952–1953: St. Joseph Church, Woonsocket
- 1953–1955: Our Lady of Consolation Church, Pawtucket
- 1956: Suspended on leave, Queen of the Clergy Villa, West Greenwich
- 1956–1958: Suspended on leave, Stella Maris Home for Convalescents, Newport
- 1958–1961: Brothers of the Sacred Heart Novitiate, Burrillville
- 1961: Suspended on leave, Fraternité Sacerdotale, Montreal, Canada
- 1961–1964: St. Ann Church, Woonsocket
The Allegations Against Father Joseph McCra
McCra was removed multiple times following abuse allegations but was repeatedly returned to ministry.
- 1951: According to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 Report, concerns about Father Joseph McCra’s conduct first surfaced in 1951 when “a sexton working at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Providence swore in an affidavit that” he witnessed McCra wrestle altar boys to the floor and place his hands inside their pants.
- 1952: In 1952, an assistant at Our Lady of Lourdes warned Bishop Russell J. McVinney that McCra continued spending unsupervised time with a young boy despite reportedly being instructed not to, and that he had taken the boy on a trip to Canada. After this, McCra was briefly placed on a temporary leave of absence, but he was soon reassigned to another parish.
- 1953: He was reassigned again in November 1953, when he was warned that if any more complaints about “his conduct” were received, he would be removed.
- 1955: Additional allegations emerged in 1955, when two boys separately alleged that McCra took them to his vacation home in Pascoag, where he supplied them with alcohol and attempted to or did sexually abuse them. The Report states there is no indication these allegations were referred to law enforcement at the time.
- 1956: His priestly faculties were suspended by early 1956 but he was quickly reassigned as a chaplain a few months later.
- 1961: According to the Report, “By March 1961, Father McCra was suspended again in response to sexual abuse allegations, though the records provided by the Diocese to this Office do not specify the particular allegations against him.”
Father McCra Pleads With Bishop McVinney
After he had been moved to a priests’ home, McCra wrote to Bishop McVinney “that he was under a ‘severe nervous tension’ and was ‘very sorry for what I have done…’”
He pleaded for his suspension to be lifted, and yet again, the Bishop granted his request. Six months later, he was assigned as an assistant pastor at St. Ann Church in Woonsocket, where he remained until his death in 1964.
“His final letter to Bishop McVinney in February of that year–pleading with McVinney to grant him the ‘great favor’ of appointing him pastor of St. Ann’s—concluded with a French phrase, ‘a tout péché miséricorde,’ meaning ‘there is mercy for every sin.’” (Appendix A)
The Dangers of Giving Abusers “Second Chances”
Father Joseph McCra’s case illustrates the serious risks of repeatedly reassigning accused clergy instead of permanently removing them from positions of trust.
When institutions repeatedly give alleged predators “second chances” rather than prioritizing child safety, additional children are placed at risk.
Preventing future abuse requires institutions to respond promptly and decisively to allegations, conduct thorough investigations, and place the safety and well-being of children above the reputation or career of the accused.
Support for Survivors of Clergy Sexual Abuse
If you or someone you love was sexually abused by Father Joseph McCra, Andreozzi + Foote is here to help.
Recent changes to Rhode Island law have created an opportunity for survivors to pursue civil claims that may have previously been barred by the statute of limitations.
At Andreozzi + Foote, we represent survivors of clergy sexual abuse across the nation. Our team takes a trauma-informed approach to every case, ensuring survivors are heard, supported, and empowered throughout the legal process.
If you were abused by Father McCra or another religious leader, we encourage you to contact us today to learn about your legal options.
Every consultation is free and completely confidential.
📞 (866) 311-8640
📧 info@vca.law
Image sources: Father Joseph McCra, via Bishop Accountability. Our Lady of Lourdes Church Complex, via Wikipedia.
