The Case of Father James Silva
Key Takeaways Who Was Father James Silva? Father James M. Silva was ordained in 1967 and served at numerous Rhode Island parishes before being named Assistant and later Interim Director of the Diocese’s Office of Ministerial Formation in 1986. He was laicized in 1993. Silva is one of four clergy members the Rhode Island Attorney […]
Father Kevin Fisette Sexual Abuse Case
Key Takeaways Who Was Father Kevin Fisette? Father Kevin Fisette was ordained in November 1981 and served at parishes, hospitals, and schools across Rhode Island for nearly three decades before being removed from ministry in August 2009. He has not been laicized. Fisette is one of four clergy members the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office […]
Father John Petrocelli Sexual Abuse Case
Key Takeaways Who Was Father John Petrocelli? Father John N. Petrocelli was ordained in 1971 and served at parishes and hospitals across Rhode Island for over three decades before being removed from ministry in August 2002. Petrocelli is one of four clergy members the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office criminally charged as a result of […]
Father Armand Ventre Sexual Abuse Investigation
Key Takeaways 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 […]
Father Biagio Samuel Turillo Sexual Abuse Allegations | Diocese of Providence
Key Takeaways Who Was Father Biagio Samuel Turillo? Father Biagio Samuel Turillo was ordained in 1946 and spent 48 years in active ministry across ten Rhode Island assignments before retiring in 1994. He was removed from ministry in 2016 and died in 2023. Turillo is identified on the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 Report and […]
Father Paul Tousignant Sexual Abuse Allegations
Key Takeaways Who Was Father Paul Tousignant? Father Paul Tousignant was ordained in 1951 and served at parishes in Coventry, Woonsocket, and Pawtucket before a prolonged, unexplained suspension in the 1960s led to his voluntary laicization in 1967. He died in 1987. Tousignant is identified on the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 Report, but is […]
Father John Tormey Sexual Abuse Allegations | Diocese of Providence
Key Takeaways Who Was Father John Tormey? Father John Tormey was ordained in 1967 and served at parishes and schools in East Providence and Providence before voluntarily resigning from the priesthood in 1979 to marry. He went on to teach psychology and thanatology at Bristol Community College in Massachusetts for 35 years. Tormey is identified […]
Father Peter Tedeschi Sexual Abuse Allegations
Key Takeaways Who Was Father Peter Tedeschi? Father Peter L. Tedeschi was ordained in 1960 and served at seven parishes and a hospital chaplaincy across Rhode Island over 26 years. He died in October 1986. Tedeschi is identified in the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 report. The Diocese lists him as “publicly accused” rather than […]
Father William Tanguay Sexual Abuse Allegations
Key Takeaways Who Was Father William Tanguay? Father William Tanguay was ordained in 1969 and spent most of his active ministry at the Church of St. Michael the Archangel in Providence, later directing Hmong refugee ministries in Minnesota and North Carolina before his 2002 suspension. Tanguay is identified on the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 […]
Father Brendan Smyth Sexual Abuse Case
Key Takeaways Who Was Father Brendan Smyth? Father Brendan Smyth was an Irish Norbertine priest who spent three years, 1965 to 1968, assigned to Our Lady of Mercy Church in East Greenwich, Rhode Island, amid assignments in Scotland, Wales, Ireland, and North Dakota. Smyth is identified on the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 Report and […]