Key Takeaways
- Father Robert McIntyre was assigned to St. Aloysius Home in Smithfield, Rhode Island, from 1971 until its closure in 1994.
- According to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 Report, the Diocese of Providence received 12 allegations accusing McIntyre of the sexual abuse of children between 1993 and 2021.
- McIntyre retired from active ministry after St. Aloysius Home closed and his faculties were revoked.
Who Was Father Robert McIntyre?
Sometimes known as “Father Mac,” Father Robert J. McIntyre was born on May 22, 1937, and was ordained as a priest for the Diocese of Providence on June 30, 1963.
During his ministry, McIntyre served in several different assignments before being placed in St. Aloysius Home in Smithfield in 1971. He became director of the facility in 1978 and remained in that role until the orphanage closed in 1994 following public outcry over widespread allegations of child sexual abuse.
McIntyre died on June 23, 2020. He is included on both the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 Report and the Diocese of Providence’s List of Credibly Accused Clergy.
Because of the volume of allegations, this article provides a brief overview of the publicly available information on McIntyre.
Readers seeking additional details on the case of McIntyre may review Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 Report or the sources compiled by Bishop Accountability.
Father Robert McIntyre Assignment History
Father Robert McIntyre served in the following assignments during his ministry in the Diocese of Providence:
- 1963–1967: St. Teresa of the Child Jesus Church (Pawtucket, Rhode Island)
- 1967: Christian Brother Novitiate (Narragansett, Rhode Island)
- 1967–1971: St. Brendan Church (East Providence, Rhode Island)
- 1971–1994: St. Aloysius Home (Smithfield, Rhode Island)
- 1994: Suspended from ministry, then retired
The Allegations Against Father Robert McIntyre
According to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 Report, Father Robert McIntyre was accused of sexually abusing multiple children at St. Aloysius Home.
The Report states “From 1993 to 2021, the Diocese received a dozen complaints of sexual abuse by McIntyre. The reported abuse included fondling genitals, oral sex, anal penetration, possession of child pornography, and forcing children at St. Aloysius to sexually abuse each other. One complainant reported that the abuse occurred weekly and that some of the instances of abuse involved other men, including others employed by the orphanage.” (Appendix A)
McIntyre was added to the Diocese of Providence’s 2019 List of Credibly Accused Clergy and was later identified in the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 Report on child sexual abuse in the Diocese of Providence.
Closure of St. Aloysius Home And the Aftermath
St. Aloysius Home was a diocesan residential foster care and treatment facility for abused and neglected children in the custody of the State of Rhode Island.
According to Bishop Accountability, “At least two civil lawsuits filed in 1992 and 1993 named McIntyre as responsible for covering up abuse at the RI Catholic orphanage, St. Aloysius Home, and conspiring to prevent proper reporting procedures.”
In September 1993, a former resident reported to the Diocese that McIntyre and a Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) employee had sexually abused him while he was living at St. Aloysius Home.
By January 1994, St. Aloysius Home had permanently closed following public outcry over widespread allegations of sexual abuse of children there. According to the Report, “Father McIntyre retired from active ministry shortly after the closure of St. Aloysius and the Bishop revoked his faculties.” (Appendix A)
In 1996, a former resident filed a civil lawsuit alleging that McIntyre sexually abused him while he lived at St. Aloysius Home. Although a jury returned a verdict in McIntyre’s favor in 1999, additional former residents continued coming forward over the following decades.
In 2003, another former resident sought a settlement from the Diocese alleging abuse by a priest and staff members at St. Aloysius Home. He later identified McIntyre as the priest who allegedly abused him.
McIntyre’s Career After the Priesthood
According to the AG’s Report, “After leaving the priesthood in 1994, Father McIntyre worked at the Center for Health and Human Services in New Bedford. Three years later, he became the Director of Residential Services for YOU, Inc. in Worcester, where he was responsible for 10 residential sites for at-risk children and youth. He retired in 2000, at which time he began part-time work at the DaVinci Center, a social services agency for all ages.”
According to the Attorney General’s Report, the records do not indicate whether the Diocese notified any of McIntyre’s subsequent employers about the sexual abuse allegations against him.
In 2019, he was added to the Diocese’s List of Credibly Accused Clergy, Following the publication of the list, he relocated to Florida, where he died in 2020.
Were You Abused by Father Robert McIntyre or Another Rhode Island Priest?
If you or someone you love was sexually abused by Father Robert McIntyre or another member of the Diocese of Providence, you may still 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 McIntyre 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: Father Robert McIntyre and St. Aloysius Home, courtesy of Providence Journal.
