Key Takeaways
- According to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 Report, Ferry was accused of sexually abusing five boys during the 1960s.
- Ferry died in 1988 and was later included on the Diocese of Providence’s List of Credibly Accused Clergy.
- Rhode Island’s childhood sexual abuse revival window may allow survivors to pursue civil claims against institutions that employed, supervised, or retained clergy members accused of abuse.
Who Was Father John Ferry?
Father John Ferry was a priest of the Diocese of Providence who served in several kinds of ministries throughout Rhode Island, including Catholic journalism.
Born on April 23, 1926, Ferry was ordained on February 2, 1957. According to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 Report on Child Sexual Abuse in the Diocese of Providence, he “predeceased all the allegations made against him.” He was also included on the Diocese of Providence’s List of Credibly Accused Clergy.
Known Assignments
According to the AG’s Report, Ferry’s assignments included:
- St. Rose of Lima Church, Warwick (1957–1965)
- Our Lady of Providence Seminary, Warwick (1962–1965)
- Assistant Editor, The Providence Visitor, Providence (1965–1967)
- St. Margaret Church, Rumford (1965–1967)
- Editor, The Providence Visitor, Providence (1967–1973)
- St. Margaret Home, Providence (1967–1973)
- St. Rose of Lima Church, Warwick (1973–1988)
Father Ferry died on April 11, 1988.
Allegations Against Father John Ferry
According to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 Report, “During the 1960s, Father John Ferry reportedly sexually abused four boys and a young man between the ages of 15 and 18 years old. In each instance, Ferry reportedly provided the teens with alcohol before touching them inappropriately.”
The allegations involved Ferry’s time at Our Lady of Providence Seminary, The Providence Visitor, now The Rhode Island Catholic, and parish ministry.
One former employee of The Providence Visitor accused Ferry of drugging and sexually abusing him while he was a high school student working for the diocesan newspaper during the late 1960s. He said that Ferry took him for a picnic and “forced him to drink from a Thermos and the liquid inside left him drugged and unconscious.” (NBC 10)
In 2013, the man spoke to the media, explaining that his father went to the parish with a baseball bat, but nobody reported the incident: “‘It was part of the culture.’”
All known allegations were reported after Ferry’s death.
Readers seeking additional information regarding the allegations against Father Ferry and the diocesan response should review Appendix A of Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 Report on Child Sexual Abuse in the Diocese of Providence.
Were You Harmed by Father John Ferry?
Although Father Ferry died in 1988, survivors may still have legal options against the institutions that employed, supervised, or retained him.
Rhode Island’s child sexual abuse revival window has created an opportunity for survivors to pursue civil claims that may have previously been barred by the statute of limitations.
Survivors may have civil legal options against any institutions that supervised Father Ferry.
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 John Ferry or another clergy member, we encourage you to contact us today to learn about your legal options.
Every consultation is free and completely confidential.
