Key Takeaways
- Deacon Edward Sadowski was publicly identified in the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 Report on Child Sex Abuse in the Diocese of Providence.
- Unlike most clergy in this series, the Report does not document a known, named child victim of in-person abuse by Sadowski. Instead, his file centers on a long criminal record of attempting to solicit minors online and possessing child pornography, spanning more than two decades and three states.
- The Diocese relieved Sadowski of his duties within days of his first arrest in 2001, but he went on to be arrested for similar conduct again in 2009 and 2022.
- Sadowski is a registered sex offender in the state of Rhode Island.
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 included on the Diocese of Providence’s List of Credibly Accused Clergy. He is a currently registered sex offender in Rhode Island. (Appendix A, p. 303)
Deacon Edward Sadowski Assignment History
According to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Report, Sadowski served at:
- 1977–1980: SS. John & Paul Church, Coventry
- 1980–1984: St. Joseph Church, Hope Valley
- 1981–1983: Shady Acres Rest Home, Coventry
- 1983–1985: Leave of absence
- 1985–1991: Nursing home ministry, Coventry
- 1991–2001: St. Vincent de Paul Church, Coventry
- 2001: Suspended on leave
The Allegations Against Deacon Edward Sadowski
Sadowski’s record consists of a series of separate criminal cases rather than a single identified victim, though each involved an attempt to sexually exploit a minor.
- July 2001: Massachusetts State Police arrested Sadowski at a motel, where he had gone to meet a 14 year old girl he had contacted two weeks earlier in an online chatroom called “Little Girl Sex Chat” for what he called a “sexual rendezvous.” The girl was an undercover trooper. Troopers found Sadowski with Viagra, a vibrator, three condoms, and a digital camera, and he admitted he intended to have sex with her.
- 2001: Rhode Island State Police separately searched Sadowski’s home and seized laptops, hard drives, discs, and recording equipment. A review by the Director of Hasbro Children’s Hospital’s Child Protection Program found that 14 of 93 recovered images depicted children under 18. State Police arrested Sadowski that October on possession of child pornography charges.
- December 2009: Sadowski was arrested again in Rhode Island, this time also as a fugitive from Stafford County, Virginia, after again attempting to meet a girl he believed to be underage online, who again turned out to be an undercover officer. Virginia charged him with 54 counts of transmitting child pornography and indecent solicitation of a minor; Rhode Island separately charged him with possession of child pornography and indecent solicitation of a child.
- September 2022: Shortly after his release from incarceration in Virginia, Sadowski was arrested a third time in Rhode Island on a further child pornography charge.
The Diocese learned of Sadowski’s first arrest within a day, and Monsignor Jacques Plante relieved him of his diaconal duties four days later, before any conviction. While incarcerated in 2002, Sadowski wrote to the Diocese maintaining his innocence, telling officials to “believe none of what they hear . . . and very little of what they see.” In 2010, Diocesan officials discussed laicizing him, though the Diocese’s own records do not show whether that process was completed; documents indicate he was suspended indefinitely instead.
Deacon Edward Sadowski’s Criminal Proceedings
Sadowski has been convicted multiple times since 2001. He pleaded guilty in January 2002 in Massachusetts to attempted statutory rape and child pornography charges, receiving two years in prison and five years of probation. In May 2002, he pleaded nolo contendere in Rhode Island and was sentenced to five years, with two years to serve concurrently. Following his 2009 arrest, he was sentenced to 17 years in prison in Virginia. After his 2022 release and return to Rhode Island, he pleaded nolo contendere to a further child pornography count and received five years, fully suspended, with probation.
Civil Litigation Against Deacon Edward Sadowski
Public records reviewed for this profile do not show a civil lawsuit filed against Sadowski, consistent with the absence of an identified in-person victim in his file. However, if there are in-person victims, Rhode Island’s expanded statute of limitations may give survivors the option to pursue civil claims against the Diocese of Providence in connection with his supervision.
Support for Survivors of Clergy Sexual Abuse
If you or someone you love was sexually abused by Deacon Edward Sadowski, 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 Deacon Sadowski 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: Edward Joseph Sadowski, Jr. via BishopAccountability.org and icrimewatch.net.
