Key Takeaways
- Father Armand Ventre 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, Ventre abused seven victims: six minors and one mentally disabled adult.
- A 1986 criminal trial on charges involving three boys ended in dismissed charges and an acquittal.
- An internal 1994 Diocesan memo concluded Ventre had “obvious problems,” yet Bishop Louis Gelineau kept him in a hospital chaplaincy with access to minors for another five years, until his 1999 retirement.
- In July 2026, five more accusers filed a new civil lawsuit against the Diocese over his alleged conduct.
Who Was Father Armand Ventre?
Father Armand Ventre was ordained in 1957 and served across nine Rhode Island assignments over 42 years, including as a school chaplain, parish pastor, and hospital chaplain. He retired and died in December 1999.
Ventre is identified on the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 Report and included on the Diocese of Providence’s List of Credibly Accused Clergy. Court records show Ventre was tried in 1986 on charges involving three of his accusers; the judge dismissed two counts for insufficient evidence and found him not guilty on the third. (Appendix A, p. 364)
Father Armand Ventre Assignment History
According to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Report, Ventre served at:
- 1957–1959: St. Jude Church, Lincoln; Our Lady of Providence Seminary; St. Joseph Church, Burrillville; St. Patrick Church, Harrisville; St. Paul Church, Cranston
- 1959–1972: Mount Saint Charles Academy, Woonsocket
- 1972–1983: Director, Cursillo Movement, and St. Luke Church, Barrington
- 1974–1980: St. Teresa of the Child Jesus Church and St. Raphael Academy, Pawtucket (1974–1977)
- 1980–1985: Our Lady of Good Help Church, Burrillville
- 1986–1987: Sabbatical, Notre Dame
- 1987–1999: VA Medical Center and St. Joseph Hospital’s Fatima Unit, Providence
The Allegations Against Father Armand Ventre
Nearly every complaint describes the same behavior: Ventre bathing boys and young men at his lake house and inviting them to share his bed, over a span of more than two decades and multiple assignments.
A boy reported Ventre began fondling and bathing him at his Gloucester lake house starting in 1973, at age eight; the Diocese learned of this only in 2008, through arbitration resulting in a $50,000 award. In 1977, a ninth grader’s uncle reported to St. Raphael Academy’s principal that Ventre had bathed the boy and shared his bed during an extended cottage stay; a Diocesan letter recommended the Bishop speak with Ventre but avoid questioning the boy, and no report went to police. Ventre resigned from St. Raphael days later but remained in ministry.
Between 1981 and 1985, at Our Lady of Good Help in Burrillville, three more boys, ages 10 to 16, independently described Ventre bathing them, sharing his bed, sometimes two at once, and touching their genitals. These three complaints, not the 1973 or 1977 reports above, led to Ventre’s 1985 arrest and the 1986 trial. One, from a 14- or 15-year-old with a disability, triggered the initial 1984 state referral. The Diocese never told police about the 1977 complaint.
The 1986 trial ended without a conviction: the judge dismissed two of the three counts for insufficient evidence and acquitted Ventre of the third, citing inconsistencies in the accuser’s testimony. Ventre carried a bell into the courtroom, telling reporters it symbolized how lepers were once forced to announce themselves, saying, “Somebody made me a leper unjustly.”
Despite the acquittal, complaints continued. In 1987, a disabled 24-year-old’s mother reported Ventre was sharing a bed with her son; Ventre told Bishop Gelineau he “saw nothing wrong with two grown men sleeping together.” In 1994, Monsignor George Frappier’s internal review catalogued Ventre’s “seven reported episodes” over 17 years and concluded he “does not comprehend the danger his conduct poses.” That November, eleven Diocesan advisors unanimously agreed Ventre was “an extreme risk and a public relations nightmare” yet Gelineau kept him in his hospital assignment, and Bishop Robert Mulvee later thanked Ventre for his “wonderful work” in a 1999 retirement letter.
Civil Litigation Regarding Father Armand Ventre
One man received a $50,000 arbitration award from the Diocese in 2008. On July 29, 2026, five more former altar boys from St. Teresa of the Child Jesus Parish in Pawtucket sued the Diocese and the parish in Providence County Superior Court, J. Does 1-5 v. The Roman Catholic Bishop of Providence, et al., alleging negligence and negligent supervision tied to Ventre’s abuse at his lakeside cottage.
Andreozzi and Foote Fights for Survivors of Clergy Sexual Abuse
If you or someone you love was affected by Father Armand Ventre, 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 affected by Father Ventre or another religious leader, we encourage you to contact us today to learn about your legal options.
Every consultation is free and completely confidential.
Image sources: Father Armand Ventre, via BishopAccountability.org. Our Lady of Good Help Church, 1063 Victory Highway, Mapleville, Burrillville, RI, © Google, Google Business Profile.
