Father Peter Scagnelli Sexual Abuse Allegations
Key Takeaways Who Was Father Peter Scagnelli? Father Peter J. Scagnelli was ordained in 1976 and spent his active ministry at parishes in Warwick, Bristol, and Woonsocket before being suspended in 1994, when he was in his mid-40s. He died in 2017 at age 68. Scagnelli is identified on the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 […]
Father Francis Santilli Sexual Abuse Allegations | Diocese of Providence
Key Takeaways Who Was Father Francis Santilli? Father Francis Santilli was ordained in 1980 and served as pastor of St. Philip Church in Smithfield from 2010 until his removal in 2022, a 42-year career that included a term on the Diocese’s own Review Board, the internal panel responsible for evaluating other priests’ abuse allegations. Santilli […]
Father Alfred Santagata Sexual Abuse Allegations
Key Takeaways Who Was Father Alfred Santagata? Father Alfred Santagata was a priest in the Diocese of Providence who died in August 1967. Rhode Island Attorney General records show only a partial assignment history for him, limited to a single decade-long posting at St. Mary Church in Cranston. Santagata is identified on the Rhode Island […]
The Case of Sex Offender Deacon Edward Sadowski
Key Takeaways Who Was Deacon Edward Sadowski? Edward Sadowski was ordained a permanent deacon in the Diocese of Providence in 1977 and served in that role, which does not require celibacy the way priesthood does, for roughly 24 years before his first arrest. Sadowski is identified on the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 Report and […]
Father Joseph Rocha Sexual Abuse Allegations
Key Takeaways Who Was Father Joseph Rocha? Father Joseph James Rocha was a priest of the Dominican Province of St. Joseph assigned to parishes and institutions in the Diocese of Providence for nearly 15 years, before leaving the Diocese in 1986 and the Dominican Order itself in 1988. Rocha is identified on the Rhode Island […]
Father Paul F. Reynolds Sexual Abuse Allegations
Key Takeaways Who Was Father Paul F. Reynolds? Father Paul F. Reynolds was a priest in the Diocese of Providence for more than 40 years, serving four parishes before retiring in 2007 due to medical leave. He died in 2017. Reynolds is identified on the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 Report, but he does not […]
Father William Raiche Sexual Abuse Allegations
Key Takeaways Who Was Father William Raiche? Father William Raiche was a priest in the Diocese of Providence who spent his entire 46-year career at parishes in Pawtucket and Woonsocket before retiring in 1978. He died in 1983. Raiche is identified on the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 Report and included on the Diocese of […]
Father Hugh Rafferty Sexual Abuse Allegations | Diocese of Providence
Key Takeaways Who Was Father Hugh Rafferty? Father Hugh Rafferty was ordained for the Diocese of Providence in 1964 and spent just over a decade in active ministry before seeking laicization in 1976, citing an inability to keep his vow of celibacy. Rafferty is identified on the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 Report and included […]
Father John Powers Sexual Abuse Allegations | Diocese of Providence
Key Takeaways Who Was Father John Powers? Father John Powers was a priest of the Dominican Order, a religious community distinct from the Diocese of Providence’s own diocesan clergy, who spent only a few years assigned in Rhode Island before moving on to assignments in Louisiana. Powers is identified on the Rhode Island Attorney General’s […]
Father William O’Neill Sexual Abuse Allegations
Key Takeaways Who Was Father William O’Neill? Father William O’Neill was a priest in the Diocese of Providence, ordained in 1968, who served in active ministry for only about three years before being suspended in 1971. He was voluntarily laicized in 1972 for reasons the diocese never documented. O’Neill is identified on the Rhode Island […]