Key Takeaways
- Father Mario Bordignon, a Scalabrini priest who served in several states, including Rhode Island, was accused of sexually abusing a 15-year-old girl multiple times during the summer of 1964.
- The allegation was reported to the Diocese of Providence in 2013 and referred to Rhode Island State Police.
- Bordignon died in 1992 and is included in the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 Report, but not on the Diocese of Providence’s List of Credibly Accused Clergy.
Father Mario Bordignon was priest of the Scalabrini religious order. The allegations against him are outlined in the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Report on Child Sexual Abuse in the Diocese of Providence.
Who Was Mario Bordignon?
Mario Bordignon was ordained in Italy in 1950 as a member of the Scalabrini religious order. He reportedly arrived in the United States in 1951 and initially served in New Haven, Connecticut before being assigned to Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Bristol, Rhode Island from 1959 to 1964.
In 1964, Bordignon was sent to California as a missionary. “‘He returned to [the] East Coast, in NYC, in around 1966 and then in 1966 to New Haven CT, per the Official Catholic Directory.” (Bishop Accountability)
According to the history of Holy Rosary Church in Washington, D.C., Rev. Mario Bordignon briefly served as pastor there from 1970 to 1972. At some point, he returned to Rhode Island and served at St. Bartholomew Church in Providence from 1988 until his death on December 22, 1992.
Father Mario Bordignon’s Known Assignments
- St. Anthony Church, New Haven, CT (1951–1959)
- Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Bristol, Rhode Island (1959–1964)
- Unknown missionary assignment in California (beginning in 1964)
- Holy Rosary Church, Washington, D.C. (1970–1972)
- St. Bartholomew Church, Providence, Rhode Island (1988–1992)
Allegations Against Mario Bordignon
According to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 Report, a woman reported in February 2013 that Father Mario Bordignon sexually assaulted her several times during the summer of 1964 when she was 15 years old.
The complainant reported that Bordignon, whom she knew as “Father Mario,” was a family friend who accompanied her and others on outings to swim in the Palmer River in Barrington. According to the report, “On approximately five or six occasions, Bordignon reportedly put his hands on her breasts and vagina.”
The Diocese of Providence referred the allegation to Rhode Island State Police the day after receiving the complaint.
During an interview with the Director of the Diocese’s Office of Education and Compliance, the victim “provided detailed descriptions of Father Bordignon, the abuse he reportedly inflicted on her, and the impact that it had on her life and faith. Later, Director McCarthy assembled photographs of approximately 80 different priests, and the complainant specifically identified Bordignon as her abuser. McCarthy discussed the matter with the Diocesan Review Board in a meeting on April 9, 2013. We do not have any records regarding the outcome of that meeting. Meanwhile, State Police closed its investigation after learning that Bordignon had died in 1992.”
According to the Attorney General’s report, the Diocese also notified the Scalabrini Order of the allegation. Representatives of the order reportedly responded that any potential civil claims would be time-barred. The report further notes that the complainant expressed frustration that the order had not contacted her regarding the allegations.
Although Father Mario Bordignon was publicly identified in the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Report on Child Sexual Abuse in the Diocese of Providence, he is not included on the Diocese’s List of Credibly Accused Clergy.
For more detail on the allegations against Father Mario Bordignon, please download Appendix A of the AG’s Report.
Were You Abused by Father Mario Bordignon?
Even though Father Mario Bordignon is deceased, survivors may still have civil legal options against the institutions that supervised his ministry.
At Andreozzi + Foote, we represent survivors of clergy sexual abuse in Rhode Island and nationwide. Our team takes a trauma-informed approach to every case, ensuring survivors are heard, supported, and empowered throughout the legal process.
Every consultation is free and completely confidential.
We encourage you to contact us today.
📞 (866) 311-8640
📧 info@vca.law
Image Sources: St. Bartholomew’s Church, via Facebook. Father Mario Bordignon, Daily Independent Journal (San Rafael CA), February 27, 1965, via Bishop Accountability.
