Key Takeaways
- Father Robert Marcantonio was publicly identified in the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 Report after being accused of sexually abusing at least 17 boys over the course of his ministry.
- According to the Report, the Diocese received allegations against Marcantonio in 1970 but he later returned to ministry after undergoing “treatment.”
- Multiple civil lawsuits have been filed against Marcantonio and the Diocese of Providence.
Who Was Father Robert Marcantonio?
Father Robert Marcantonio was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Providence on June 24, 1967. During his ministry, he served at several parishes and educational institutions in Rhode Island. He also spent several years in Iowa.
According to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 Report, the first allegations against Marcantonio emerged in 1970, but he was not suspended until 1989. Multiple allegations had been made at that point. After that, he reportedly never publicly returned to ministry and died in Arizona in 1999.
Marcantonio was accused of sexually abusing at least 17 boys. He is included on the Diocese of Providence’s List of Credibly Accused Clergy.
Father Robert Marcantonio is one of the most extensively documented accused clergy members in the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 Report.
Because of the volume of allegations, lawsuits, and diocesan records, this article provides a brief overview of the publicly available information. Readers seeking additional details may review Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 Report or the sources compiled by Bishop Accountability.
Assignment History
- 1967: Sacred Heart Church, West Warwick, RI
- 1967–1968: St. Mary Church, Cranston, RI
- 1968–1969: Sacred Heart Church, West Warwick, RI
- 1969–1970: St. Mary Church, Cranston, RI
- 1970–1975: St. Cecilia Church and Iowa State University, Ames, IA
- 1975–1979: Stonehill College, Easton, MA
- 1975–1989: Weekend Assistant, St. John Vianney Church, Cumberland, RI
- 1979–1989: Rhode Island College, Providence, RI
- 1989: Bryant College, Smithfield, RI
- 1989–1992: Suspended on leave, Providence, RI
- 1992-1999: Suspended on leave, Arizona
The Allegations Against Father Robert Marcantonio
According to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 Report, the Diocese first received documented allegations against Father Robert Marcantonio in May 1970, less than three years after his ordination.
The Report describes letters from parents alleging that Marcantonio had sexually abused altar boys at St. Mary’s Church in Cranston. One mother wrote that multiple boys had allegedly been threatened, taken into Marcantonio’s room in the parish rectory, and sexually abused. She also wrote that she had “‘met with other mothers whose sons have also been victims.’”
According to the Report, “A month later, in late June 1970, Monsignor Reilly received a mental health evaluation of Marcantonio by a Rhode Island-based psychiatrist. The evaluation referred to allegations of ‘homosexual’ relationships with as many as ‘ten to fifteen’ boys between 12 and 14 years old. The evaluation recommended giving Marcantonio ‘another chance’ in ‘another parish’ where he ‘could control himself and presumably participate in growth and maturity process.’” (Appendix A)
According to the Attorney General’s Report, there is no indication that the Diocese attempted to identify the boys referenced in the evaluation, further investigate the allegations, or report them to law enforcement.
Rather than leaving ministry permanently, Marcantonio eventually relocated to Ames, Iowa, where he pursued graduate studies in psychology while receiving “treatment” from a priest-psychiatrist. Less than a year later, that psychiatrist reported that he and Marcantonio had “successfully accomplished” their therapeutic goal. Marcantonio remained in Iowa before eventually returning to ministry in Rhode Island.
The Danger of Giving an Accused Abuser “Another Chance”
One of the most troubling aspects of Father Robert Marcantonio’s case is that, despite allegations involving numerous children early in his priesthood, a psychiatric evaluation reportedly recommended giving him “‘another chance’” in ministry.
The Report explains that although Marcantonio returned to Rhode Island after his stint in Iowa, he “was hardly cured: individuals would later come forward alleging that Marcantonio had sexually abused them while he was in Iowa; while he was working at Stonehill [College]; and while he served as a parish priest at St. John Vianney.”
The allegations against Marcantonio ultimately spanned multiple decades, assignments, and states and included allegations of oral and anal sexual abuse, as well as exposing minors to pornographic material.
Marcantonio’s case reflects a pattern that often emerges in clergy abuse investigations across the country: rather than permanently removing priests accused of sexually abusing children, some dioceses transferred them to new assignments or returned them to ministry after so-called “treatment.”
Marcantonio’s case illustrates the lasting consequences that can result when an accused priest is allowed to resume ministry rather than being permanently removed.
Civil Lawsuits and Settlements
Beginning in 1989, numerous survivors filed civil lawsuits or asserted claims alleging that Father Robert Marcantonio sexually abused them as children.
According to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 Report, these lawsuits and claims resulted in multiple settlements over the years. The Report states, “According to the Diocesan records provided to this Office, the Diocese paid approximately $2.7 million to settle those claims.”
The Attorney General’s investigation also documents some of the lasting impacts of the alleged abuse. One survivor told investigators that the abuse contributed to the breakdown of his marriage, and left him “‘scarred for life.’ The complainant also expressed his anger, adding that he felt the Diocese tried to ‘sweep [his abuse] under the carpet’ and that the Diocese ‘did him no justice.’”
If You Were Harmed by Father Robert Marcantonio
If you or someone you love was sexually abused by Father Robert Marcantonio or another member of the Catholic clergy, you may have legal options.
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 Father Marcantonio or another religious leader, we encourage you to contact us today to learn about your legal options.
Every consultation is free and completely confidential.
