Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church in East Greenwich, Rhode Island, has served the community since 1853. For most of its history, it has been a place of faith and family. But the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 clergy abuse report placed Our Lady of Mercy on a very different kind of map, one that documents a credibly accused priest who served at the parish during the 1960s. If you were abused at Our Lady of Mercy, or by someone connected to the parish, you are not alone, and you are not to blame. Rhode Island’s new child sexual abuse law now gives you a real path to civil justice, one that did not exist before July 1, 2026.

Table of Contents

• What the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Report Revealed About Our Lady of Mercy
• The Credibly Accused Priest Connected to Our Lady of Mercy, East Greenwich
• Rhode Island’s New Child Sexual Abuse Law (H-7200A/S-2616A) and What It Means for East Greenwich Survivors
• How Civil Claims Against the Diocese of Providence Work Under Rhode Island Law
• Why Survivors Wait, and Why That Waiting Is Completely Understandable
• FAQs About Our Lady of Mercy, East Greenwich Sexual Abuse Claims

What the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Report Revealed About Our Lady of Mercy

In March 2026, Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha released a comprehensive investigative report on child sexual abuse within the Diocese of Providence. The report accused the Diocese of a “well-worn pattern” of failing to remove dozens of priests accused of child sexual abuse, identifying 75 clergy members with credible allegations involving more than 300 children since 1950. Our Lady of Mercy in East Greenwich was among the parishes named in that report.

The report’s assignment histories document that at least one credibly accused priest served at Our Lady of Mercy between 1965 and 1968. That priest later went on to serve at multiple locations across Ireland and the United States before being imprisoned for sexual abuse in Northern Ireland between 1994 and 1997. The Diocese knew where this priest was assigned. The question survivors and their families are now asking is: what did the institution know, and when?

The investigation found that accused priests were repeatedly returned to ministry, a pattern that placed children at risk across multiple parishes and communities. East Greenwich was no exception. The report makes clear that assignment decisions were made at the institutional level, meaning the Diocese bore responsibility for who served in its parishes and for how long.

The Attorney General’s findings are not allegations against the parish community itself, which includes thousands of families who trusted the Church. The report targets the institutional conduct of Diocese leadership and the supervisors who managed accused clergy. Understanding that distinction matters if you are considering a civil claim, because Rhode Island law now allows survivors to pursue institutions and supervisors directly, not just individual abusers.

The Credibly Accused Priest Connected to Our Lady of Mercy, East Greenwich

The Rhode Island Attorney General’s report lists a credibly accused priest who served at Our Lady of Mercy, East Greenwich from 1965 to 1968. According to the assignment history documented in the report, this priest later served at Holy Trinity Abbey in Kilnacrott, Ireland, followed by assignments in North Dakota and back to Ireland, before serving at two Irish hospitals. Between 1994 and 1997, he was imprisoned for sexual abuse in Northern Ireland.

That imprisonment came nearly three decades after his time at Our Lady of Mercy. For any survivor who encountered this priest during his East Greenwich assignment, that gap in time is not a barrier to justice anymore. Rhode Island’s new law was designed precisely for situations like this, where institutional placement decisions put a known or suspected abuser in contact with children, and where the passage of time had previously made civil claims impossible to bring.

The Attorney General’s report documents the warning signs that often preceded abuse in Diocese parishes. The investigation found that in virtually all reported cases, priests capitalized on their access to minors through the Church and sought out frequent and prolonged contact with youth, including allowing minors to congregate in or around parish rectories and demonstrating excessive involvement in children’s lives. These patterns were not unique to one priest or one parish. They were systemic.

If you were a child at Our Lady of Mercy during the 1960s, or if you know someone who was, the details in the Attorney General’s report may feel painfully familiar. What happened was not your fault. The Church’s institutional decisions, not your actions, created the conditions that allowed abuse to occur.

Rhode Island’s New Child Sexual Abuse Law (H-7200A/S-2616A) and What It Means for East Greenwich Survivors

Rhode Island’s new law amends the statute of limitations for claims of sexual abuse of a child and creates a two-year window for survivors to bring otherwise time-barred claims against institutions and supervisors accused of enabling or covering up sexual abuse. The new law took effect on July 1, 2026.

The legislation (2026-H 7200A, 2026-S 2616A) was sponsored by House Judiciary Committee Chairwoman Carol Hagan McEntee and Senator Mark McKenney. Governor Dan McKee signed it on June 11, 2026. The law establishes a two-year civil revival window that opens from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2028. During this 24-month period, survivors can file civil suits even if the statute of limitations on their claims had previously expired.

This matters enormously for survivors connected to Our Lady of Mercy. Before this law, a survivor whose claim had expired under old deadlines had no civil remedy against the Diocese or its supervisors. The new law specifically targets institutions and organizations such as churches, schools, youth programs, healthcare facilities, and sports leagues, as well as supervisors. That means the Diocese of Providence itself, and the supervisors who made assignment decisions, can now be named as defendants in civil claims filed during the revival window.

For future claims, survivors must file by whichever date is later: either 35 years from the date of the abusive act, or seven years from when the survivor first discovers or reasonably connects their adult injuries to the childhood abuse. The statute of limitations begins running when the survivor turns 18. These forward-looking provisions protect younger survivors who may not yet be ready to come forward.

The revival window closes on June 30, 2028. That deadline is firm. If you believe your claim may be time-barred, speaking with a sexual abuse lawyer who handles Rhode Island clergy abuse cases is the most important step you can take right now.

How Civil Claims Against the Diocese of Providence Work Under Rhode Island Law

A civil claim is separate from a criminal case. You do not need a criminal conviction, a police report, or any other official finding to file a civil lawsuit. Civil claims use a different standard of proof than criminal cases, and they can result in financial compensation for the harm you suffered, including the emotional, psychological, and physical impact of abuse.

Under Rhode Island law, a civil claim against an institution like the Diocese of Providence can be based on negligence, meaning the Diocese failed in its duty to protect children in its care. Institutions have a legal obligation to exercise reasonable care when placing individuals in positions of trust and authority over minors. When a Diocese reassigns a priest despite known or suspected abuse, or fails to investigate credible reports, that failure can form the basis of a civil negligence claim.

The Rhode Island Attorney General’s report documented exactly this kind of institutional conduct. The report accused the Diocese of a “well-worn pattern” of failing to remove dozens of priests accused of child sexual abuse and keeping the abuse secret over decades. That documented pattern is directly relevant to any civil claim a survivor may bring against the Diocese.

Survivors who work with a sexual assault lawyer experienced in Rhode Island clergy abuse cases can pursue claims that hold both the individual abuser and the institution accountable. The two-year revival window created by H-7200A/S-2616A makes this possible for survivors whose claims were previously expired. Filing before June 30, 2028, is essential. Courts will not extend that deadline.

Why Survivors Wait, and Why That Waiting Is Completely Understandable

Many survivors of childhood sexual abuse do not come forward for years, or even decades. That is not a failure. It is a well-documented response to trauma. Shame, fear, confusion, and the power dynamics between a child and a trusted religious authority all contribute to silence. None of that silence is the survivor’s fault.

The Rhode Island legislature recognized this reality when it passed H-7200A/S-2616A. The lookback window reflects a broader recognition that delayed disclosure is common in cases involving childhood sexual abuse. Lawmakers explicitly designed the revival window to account for the fact that many survivors need years to process what happened to them before they are ready to seek legal help.

For survivors connected to Our Lady of Mercy, the abuse may have occurred more than 50 years ago. You may have spent decades wondering whether anyone would believe you, or whether anything could even be done. The answer, as of July 1, 2026, is yes. Something can be done, and the law is now on your side.

Reaching out to a sexual assault attorney does not mean you have to go to trial or face your abuser in a courtroom. Many civil cases resolve without a trial. What it does mean is that you have someone in your corner who understands Rhode Island law, who knows the Diocese’s history, and who can help you make informed decisions about your options. Sommers Schwartz represents survivors across Rhode Island and is prepared to listen, without judgment, whenever you are ready to talk.

FAQs About Our Lady of Mercy, East Greenwich Sexual Abuse Claims

Was a credibly accused priest actually assigned to Our Lady of Mercy in East Greenwich?

Yes. The Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 report on clergy abuse within the Diocese of Providence documents a credibly accused priest who served at Our Lady of Mercy in East Greenwich from 1965 to 1968. That same priest was later imprisoned for sexual abuse in Northern Ireland between 1994 and 1997. The report is a public document released by the Attorney General’s office following a multi-year investigation.

My abuse happened in the 1960s. Is it too late to file a civil claim?

Rhode Island’s new law, H-7200A/S-2616A, signed by Governor Dan McKee on June 11, 2026, and effective July 1, 2026, creates a two-year revival window that runs through June 30, 2028. During this period, survivors can file civil claims against institutions and supervisors even if the original statute of limitations has expired. Abuse from the 1960s falls within the scope of claims this window was designed to address. You should speak with an attorney as soon as possible to evaluate your specific situation.

Can I file a claim against the Diocese of Providence, not just the individual priest?

Yes. Rhode Island’s new law specifically allows survivors to bring claims against institutions and supervisors accused of enabling or covering up sexual abuse, not only against the individual who committed the abuse. The Diocese of Providence made the assignment decisions that placed accused clergy in parishes like Our Lady of Mercy. That institutional conduct can be the basis of a civil negligence claim filed during the revival window.

Do I need a police report or criminal conviction to file a civil lawsuit?

No. Civil claims operate independently of criminal cases and use a different legal standard. You do not need a police report, a prior criminal conviction, or any official government finding to pursue a civil lawsuit. Many survivors who were never able to report their abuse criminally, or whose criminal cases were never prosecuted, have successfully pursued civil claims. An attorney can evaluate the strength of your civil case based on the facts of what happened to you.

How do I get started with Sommers Schwartz if I was abused at Our Lady of Mercy?

The first step is a confidential conversation. Sommers Schwartz represents sexual abuse survivors across Rhode Island and handles clergy abuse claims with care and discretion. You can reach out by phone or through the firm’s website to speak with an attorney about your experience. There is no obligation, no judgment, and no pressure. The attorneys at Sommers Schwartz will listen to your story, explain your legal options under Rhode Island’s new revival window law, and help you decide how you want to move forward.

More Resources About Parish & Diocesan Institution Locations

• St. Mary’s Church, Cranston
• St. Aloysius Home, Smithfield
• Jesus Savior Church, Newport
• St. Matthew Church, Cranston
• St. Mary Church, Bristol
• Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, Providence
• St. Raphael Academy, Pawtucket
• St. Joseph Church, Woonsocket
• St. Margaret Church, East Providence
• St. Anthony Church, North Providence
• Immaculate Conception Church, Cranston
• St. Jude’s Parish, Lincoln
• St. Michael Church, Providence
• Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) Programs in Rhode Island