Jesus Savior Church, located at 1 Vernon Avenue in Newport, Rhode Island, is a Roman Catholic parish under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Providence. The church has served the community since 1926, with deep Portuguese traditions woven into its identity. For generations, families in Newport trusted this parish and its clergy. That trust, for some parishioners, was betrayed. Records from the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office confirm that credibly accused clergy were assigned to Jesus Savior Church. If you or someone you love was harmed at this parish, you are not alone, and what happened was not your fault. A sexual assault lawyer who understands Rhode Island’s clergy abuse laws can help you understand your rights and your options.

Table of Contents

• Credibly Accused Clergy Assigned to Jesus Savior Church, Newport
• How the Diocese of Providence Handled Abuse Allegations at Newport Parishes
• Rhode Island’s New Child Sexual Abuse Law and What It Means for Jesus Savior Church Survivors
• Why the Revival Window Matters for Survivors Who Waited to Come Forward
• How Sommers Schwartz Supports Survivors of Clergy Sexual Abuse in Rhode Island
• FAQs About Jesus Savior Church Sexual Abuse Claims in Rhode Island

Credibly Accused Clergy Assigned to Jesus Savior Church, Newport

The Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office published a comprehensive report in March 2026 documenting decades of child sexual abuse within the Diocese of Providence. That report identified clergy with credible allegations and detailed their assignment histories across Rhode Island parishes, including Jesus Savior Church in Newport.

According to the Attorney General’s records, Father Francis Xavier Battel was assigned to Jesus Savior Church, Newport from 1963 to 1964. Father Battel, born June 2, 1931, and ordained May 25, 1957, was assigned to multiple parishes throughout his career before taking a leave of absence in 1969. His presence at Jesus Savior Church during that period is documented in the official assignment history published by the Attorney General’s Office.

A second credibly accused priest, Father Paul Desrosiers, was assigned to Jesus Savior Church in 1998. Father Desrosiers had a lengthy assignment history across Rhode Island, including St. Mary Church in Newport from 1971 to 1976, and later postings in Warren, West Warwick, and Westerly. His assignment to Jesus Savior Church in Newport in 1998 was followed by a suspension on leave in August of that same year. His faculties were reinstated in February 1999, but ultimately suspended indefinitely in June 2002.

The Attorney General’s report makes clear that the Diocese of Providence followed “a well-worn pattern” of failing to remove dozens of priests accused of child sexual abuse, with the report identifying 75 clergy members who sexually abused more than 300 children since 1950. Jesus Savior Church in Newport was one of many parishes touched by that pattern.

How the Diocese of Providence Handled Abuse Allegations at Newport Parishes

The Rhode Island Attorney General’s investigation found that the Diocese of Providence did not simply fail to act on abuse allegations. It actively managed those allegations in ways that prioritized institutional reputation over child safety. Understanding this pattern matters for survivors at Jesus Savior Church, because it explains why abuse continued and why so many victims were left without answers for so long.

The investigation found that accused priests were repeatedly returned to ministry rather than removed from contact with children. Priests facing allegations were often sent on spiritual retreats or transferred to new assignments, including hospitals, schools, and other parishes, where they retained access to vulnerable people.

The Attorney General’s report documents that accused clergy were re-assigned and allegations were inconsistently reported to authorities. This is directly relevant to survivors from Jesus Savior Church, because it means the institution that was supposed to protect you may have known about the risk and chose not to act.

The Diocese’s response to complaints, according to the report, treated abuse primarily as a spiritual matter rather than a crime. Bishops sent accused priests to retreats and sabbaticals, which removed them from the immediate setting of the allegations but allowed them to continue in ministry. The Attorney General’s findings state plainly that diocesan records show successive bishops were more focused on keeping accused priests in ministry and minimizing public scandal than on stopping abuse or protecting children.

For survivors at Jesus Savior Church, this institutional failure is not just historical context. It is legally significant. Rhode Island’s new child sexual abuse law specifically addresses the liability of institutions and supervisors who enabled or covered up abuse.

Rhode Island’s New Child Sexual Abuse Law and What It Means for Jesus Savior Church Survivors

Rhode Island enacted a landmark child sexual abuse law in 2026 that directly affects survivors who believed their time to seek justice had passed. The law amends the statute of limitations for claims of sexual abuse of a child and creates a two-year window for victims to bring otherwise time-barred claims against institutions and supervisors accused of enabling or covering up sexual abuse.

Governor Dan McKee signed the legislation amending the statute of limitations for child victim claims of sexual abuse, and the new law took effect on July 1, 2026. Known by its legislative designations as H-7200A and S-2616A, the law was shaped in significant part by the Attorney General’s March 2026 report on clergy abuse within the Diocese of Providence.

The new 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 is a critical distinction. If you were abused at Jesus Savior Church decades ago and assumed your time to file had run out, the law may have changed that calculation entirely.

For future claims, they must be filed 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.

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, not just individual priests, can be held accountable for what happened at Jesus Savior Church. A qualified sexual assault attorney can evaluate whether your claim falls within the revival window and what institutions may bear legal responsibility.

Why the Revival Window Matters for Survivors Who Waited to Come Forward

Many survivors of childhood sexual abuse do not come forward immediately. That is not a weakness. It is a well-documented response to trauma. Shame, fear, disbelief from others, loyalty to a community, and the psychological weight of what happened can all delay disclosure for years or even decades. Rhode Island’s new law acknowledges this reality.

The lookback window reflects a broader recognition that delayed disclosure is common in cases involving childhood sexual abuse. The previous legal framework punished survivors for that delay by permanently closing the courthouse doors. The new law reopens them.

In 2023, the Rhode Island Supreme Court ruled that a 2019 law extending the statute of limitations only applied to suits against individual perpetrators, not the institutions or supervisors who enabled them. That ruling left many survivors without a path to hold the Diocese of Providence accountable. H-7200A and S-2616A directly address that gap by making institutions and supervisors subject to the revival window.

If you were abused at Jesus Savior Church and you told yourself it was too late, please reconsider. The window is open now, and it closes on June 30, 2028. That deadline is firm. Waiting carries real legal risk. Speaking with an experienced sexual abuse lawyer now gives you the time to make an informed decision without the pressure of a last-minute deadline.

You do not need to have all the answers before you call. You do not need to know exactly what happened, when it happened, or who else may have known. That is what an investigation is for. What you do need is to act before June 30, 2028.

How Sommers Schwartz Supports Survivors of Clergy Sexual Abuse in Rhode Island

Sommers Schwartz is a multi-state law firm representing survivors of sexual assault and sexual abuse, including those harmed by clergy within the Diocese of Providence. The firm’s attorneys understand the legal framework governing these claims in Rhode Island, including the new revival window created by H-7200A and S-2616A, and the specific institutional accountability provisions that apply to churches and their supervisors.

The firm approaches every case with a trauma-informed perspective. That means no one at Sommers Schwartz will question why you waited, suggest that you share any responsibility for what happened, or pressure you to relive your experience before you are ready. What happened to you was not your fault. Full stop.

Survivors who contact Sommers Schwartz can expect a confidential, no-pressure conversation about their situation. The attorneys will explain what the law allows, what the timeline looks like, and what options are available, without jargon and without judgment. Rhode Island law also allows survivors to file civil claims under a pseudonym in certain circumstances, which means your identity can be protected even if you choose to pursue a case.

The Attorney General’s report identified patterns of abuse and institutional cover-up across the Diocese of Providence, including parishes throughout Newport County. Jesus Savior Church is part of that documented history. Survivors from this parish have the same rights under Rhode Island law as survivors from any other affected institution. The revival window is your opportunity. Sommers Schwartz is ready to help you use it.

FAQs About Jesus Savior Church Sexual Abuse Claims in Rhode Island

Were credibly accused priests actually assigned to Jesus Savior Church in Newport?

Yes. According to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office records, at least two credibly accused priests were assigned to Jesus Savior Church in Newport. Father Francis Xavier Battel served there from 1963 to 1964, and Father Paul Desrosiers was assigned to the parish in 1998. Both appear in the Attorney General’s official list of credibly accused Diocese of Providence clergy, which was published as part of the March 2026 clergy abuse report.

What does Rhode Island’s new child sexual abuse law (H-7200A) actually do for survivors?

The law, signed by Governor Dan McKee on June 11, 2026, and effective July 1, 2026, does two things. First, it amends the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse claims going forward, giving survivors until age 53 or seven years from the date they connect their injuries to the abuse, whichever is later. Second, it creates a two-year revival window, running from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028, during which survivors can file civil claims against institutions and supervisors that would otherwise be time-barred. The law specifically includes churches and their supervisors as potential defendants.

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

Yes. Rhode Island’s new law specifically targets institutions and supervisors accused of enabling or covering up sexual abuse. That means the Diocese of Providence can be named as a defendant in civil litigation, not just the individual clergy member who committed the abuse. The Attorney General’s March 2026 report documented patterns of institutional cover-up within the Diocese, which is directly relevant to establishing institutional liability in civil claims.

What if I am not sure whether what happened to me qualifies as sexual abuse under Rhode Island law?

You do not need to make that determination on your own. Rhode Island law covers a range of conduct, and what may feel uncertain to you may be clearly actionable under the statute. The best step is to speak confidentially with an attorney who handles these cases. Sommers Schwartz offers confidential consultations at no cost, and speaking with an attorney does not obligate you to file a lawsuit. You can get answers and then decide what you want to do.

Is my identity protected if I file a civil claim related to abuse at Jesus Savior Church?

Rhode Island courts allow survivors to file civil claims using a pseudonym, such as Jane Doe or John Doe, in certain circumstances. This means your name may not need to appear in public court documents. The rules governing anonymous filings are specific and depend on the facts of your case. An attorney at Sommers Schwartz can advise you on whether filing anonymously is an option in your situation and how to pursue that protection from the start of the legal process.

More Resources About Parish & Diocesan Institution Locations

• St. Mary’s Church, Cranston
• Our Lady of Mercy, East Greenwich
• St. Aloysius Home, Smithfield
• 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