Father Joseph D’Angelo is one of the most thoroughly documented cases of clergy sexual abuse in Rhode Island history. According to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s March 2026 report on child sexual abuse in the Diocese of Providence, during his four years in the Diocese of Providence, D’Angelo was accused of sexually abusing at least four boys, ages 10 to 12. The Diocese transferred him four times rather than removing him from ministry, and church leaders were aware of complaints years before he was suspended. If you were abused by Father D’Angelo, or by any priest in the Diocese of Providence, you are not alone, and what happened to you was not your fault. A sexual assault attorney at Sommers Schwartz can help you understand your rights and your options under Rhode Island’s newest child sexual abuse law.

Table of Contents

• Who Was Father Joseph D’Angelo and What Did He Do?
• How the Diocese of Providence Enabled Father D’Angelo Through Repeated Transfers
• Father D’Angelo Appears on the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Credibly Accused List
• Rhode Island’s New Child Sexual Abuse Law (H-7200A/S-2616A) and What It Means for D’Angelo Survivors
• Why Survivors of Father D’Angelo Should Contact Sommers Schwartz Now
• FAQs About Father D’Angelo and Rhode Island Clergy Abuse Claims

Who Was Father Joseph D’Angelo and What Did He Do?

Father Joseph D’Angelo served as a diocesan priest in the Diocese of Providence from 1979 to 1983. His assignments took him to multiple parishes across Rhode Island, and the pattern of abuse he left behind was documented in detail by the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office.

According to the Attorney General’s report, D’Angelo’s first assignment in Rhode Island placed him as Assistant Pastor at St. Augustin’s Church in Newport. By January 1980, the pastor of that church had already written a letter to Bishop Louis Gelineau expressing serious concern about D’Angelo’s behavior. The letter vaguely referenced a “situation” that was becoming impossible to conceal, and a separate undated statement from the same pastor described D’Angelo as “annoying an altar boy” whose mother threatened to contact the media.

Rather than investigate or notify law enforcement, Bishop Gelineau transferred D’Angelo to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Providence. There, D’Angelo was placed in charge of the church’s religious education program and twelve altar boys. According to a formal statement attributed to the pastor of that church, D’Angelo was removed from his responsibility over the altar boys because he was “continually harassing the boys and embracing them.” Two boys later reported that D’Angelo had sexually abused them during his time at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. One of those victims reported to the Rhode Island State Police in 2019 that he had told the pastor he no longer wanted to serve Mass with D’Angelo, and the pastor’s response indicated he understood why, but no report to law enforcement followed.

The Attorney General’s report describes the language used in D’Angelo’s Diocesan file, including phrases like “annoying an altar boy” and “harassing,” as deliberate euphemisms. In D’Angelo’s case, those words could have referred to fondling, masturbation, or fellatio, all of which he was accused of doing to multiple pre-teen and teenage boys.

How the Diocese of Providence Enabled Father D’Angelo Through Repeated Transfers

The Diocese of Providence did not stop Father D’Angelo. It moved him. Each transfer placed him in front of a new group of children who had no warning about his history. This pattern, which the Rhode Island Attorney General’s report calls a “well-worn” practice within the Diocese, directly enabled additional abuse that could have been prevented.

After the complaints at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Bishop Gelineau reassigned D’Angelo twice in 1981, first to Rhode Island Hospital and then to St. Margaret Parish in East Providence. At St. Margaret, D’Angelo reportedly abused two more boys, ages 11 and 12. One of those victims formally disclosed to the Diocese in 2018 and explained that he and his mother confronted D’Angelo at the St. Margaret rectory shortly after the abuse. D’Angelo reportedly apologized. A senior pastor was present and aware of the discussion. No one called the police.

In July 1983, Bishop Gelineau suspended D’Angelo and directed him to undergo evaluation with the Paraclete Fathers in New Mexico. Instead, D’Angelo fled to Rome to appeal his case to the Vatican. He never returned to the Diocese of Providence. The Attorney General’s report shows that D’Angelo was suspended from ministry in Providence from 1983 to 1994, was assigned in the Diocese of Isernia-Venafro, Italy from 1994 to 1997, and was suspended again from 1997 until 2006, when he was laicized.

The Attorney General’s report states plainly that had the Diocese notified law enforcement by 1983, it is quite possible that D’Angelo could have been prosecuted for sexual assault. Instead, the Diocese’s silence allowed the statute of limitations to run out on most of the conduct, and by the time law enforcement was finally notified, in 2007 or later, one complainant had died, several others did not wish to pursue their complaints, and much of the conduct was time-barred.

D’Angelo was ultimately dismissed from the clerical state by the Vatican in September 2006. He is included on the Diocese’s credibly accused list, and he died in January 2026.

Father D’Angelo Appears on the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Credibly Accused List

The Rhode Island Attorney General’s Appendix A contains summaries of 72 clergy determined to have been credibly accused of child sexual misconduct in the Diocese of Providence, based on the totality of information in the Attorney General’s possession. Father Joseph D’Angelo is among those named.

In deciding whether to include an accused individual, the Attorney General relied on records voluntarily produced by the Diocese of Providence, as well as law enforcement records, records of criminal and civil proceedings, victim and witness interviews, and publicly available information. This is not a list of rumors or unverified claims. Each person on it was evaluated against a substantial body of evidence.

The push for Rhode Island’s 2026 child sexual abuse law was closely tied to a 284-page report released in March 2026 by Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha. The report documented more than 300 survivors of abuse within the Diocese of Providence and identified 75 clergy members with credible allegations of sexual misconduct dating back to 1950. It also outlined how the Diocese allegedly concealed that abuse for decades.

D’Angelo’s case is particularly significant within the report because it illustrates how Diocesan language choices, transfers, and silence compounded the harm done to survivors. The report describes how phrases like “immaturity” and “psychological problems” in his file masked what were, in reality, serious and repeated acts of child sexual abuse. If you were abused by Father D’Angelo or encountered him at any of his Rhode Island assignments, including St. Augustin’s Church in Newport, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Providence, or St. Margaret Parish in East Providence, a sexual abuse lawyer at Sommers Schwartz wants to hear from you.

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

Rhode Island’s new child sexual abuse law, House Bill H-7200A and Senate Bill S-2616A, was signed by Governor Dan McKee on June 11, 2026, and took effect on July 1, 2026. The 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 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 direct response to a 2023 Rhode Island Supreme Court ruling that found the state’s 2019 law only applied to suits against individual perpetrators, not the institutions or supervisors who enabled them.

Future claims 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. For other survivors, 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. For survivors of Father D’Angelo, this is critical. The Diocese of Providence, as an institution, had knowledge of D’Angelo’s conduct and chose to conceal it rather than report it. That institutional failure is exactly what this law was designed to address.

This revival window is time-limited and will close permanently on June 30, 2028. If you were abused by Father D’Angelo, or by any other priest in the Diocese of Providence, and your previous claim was time-barred, this window may be your last opportunity to pursue civil justice. Speaking with a sexual assault lawyer now, rather than waiting, gives you the best chance to build a strong claim before the window closes.

Why Survivors of Father D’Angelo Should Contact Sommers Schwartz Now

Survivors of clergy sexual abuse often wait years, or even decades, before they feel ready to come forward. That is completely understandable. Trauma affects memory, trust, and the ability to speak about what happened. Research consistently shows that delayed disclosure is the norm in childhood sexual abuse cases, not the exception. Rhode Island’s new law was written with that reality in mind.

If Father D’Angelo abused you, you may have believed for years that your legal options were gone. The two-year revival window created by H-7200A/S-2616A changes that. Claims that were previously barred by the statute of limitations can now be filed against the Diocese of Providence and other institutions that covered up the abuse. The Diocese knew about D’Angelo’s behavior as early as 1980 and chose to transfer him rather than protect the children in its care. That choice has legal consequences.

At Sommers Schwartz, we represent survivors of clergy sexual abuse with the seriousness and compassion that every survivor deserves. We understand how difficult it is to revisit painful memories, and we work to make the legal process as clear and manageable as possible. You will never be pressured, judged, or questioned about why you waited. Our focus is on holding institutions accountable for the choices they made to protect themselves at the expense of children.

You can file a lawsuit under a pseudonym in Rhode Island. Courts allow survivors to proceed as “Jane Doe” or “John Doe” in sexual abuse cases, which means your identity can be protected throughout the legal process. Your privacy matters, and your case does not require you to sacrifice it.

The window opened July 1, 2026. It closes June 30, 2028. Do not let that deadline pass without speaking to someone who can help. Contact Sommers Schwartz today for a free, confidential consultation. There is no obligation, and everything you share with us is protected by attorney-client privilege from the moment you reach out.

FAQs About Father D’Angelo and Rhode Island Clergy Abuse Claims

Father D’Angelo died in January 2026. Can I still file a civil lawsuit?

Yes. The death of the individual abuser does not necessarily end your right to file a civil claim. Rhode Island’s new law, H-7200A/S-2616A, allows survivors to bring claims against institutions and supervisors accused of enabling or covering up sexual abuse. The Diocese of Providence is an institution that had documented knowledge of D’Angelo’s conduct and failed to act. A civil claim against the Diocese can proceed regardless of D’Angelo’s death. Contact Sommers Schwartz to discuss the specific facts of your situation.

What is the deadline to file a claim under Rhode Island’s 2026 revival window?

The revival window created by H-7200A/S-2616A opened on July 1, 2026, and closes on June 30, 2028. All time-barred claims must be filed before that closing date. After June 30, 2028, claims that were previously time-barred will likely be permanently foreclosed. If you believe you have a claim, the time to act is now, not later. Speaking with an attorney early gives you the best opportunity to gather evidence and build a strong case.

What if I was abused at one of Father D’Angelo’s other assignments outside Rhode Island?

Father D’Angelo served in other dioceses before coming to Rhode Island, and records indicate he continued in ministry in Italy after leaving Providence. If your abuse occurred outside of Rhode Island, different state laws and statutes of limitations may apply. Each state has its own rules, and some have their own revival windows or extended deadlines for childhood sexual abuse claims. Sommers Schwartz handles multi-state sexual abuse cases and can help you understand what options are available based on where and when the abuse occurred.

Does it matter that I never reported the abuse to police or to the Diocese?

No. The vast majority of childhood sexual abuse survivors never report to police or church officials, and that is completely normal. Shame, fear, disbelief, and the power dynamics created by trusted authority figures like priests all contribute to silence. Rhode Island law does not require you to have reported the abuse previously in order to file a civil claim. Your account of what happened is the foundation of your case, and an attorney can help you understand what additional evidence may be available to support it.

Can I file my lawsuit anonymously so my name is not made public?

Rhode Island courts allow sexual abuse survivors to file civil lawsuits using a pseudonym, such as “Jane Doe” or “John Doe.” This means your legal name does not have to appear in public court filings. Protecting your privacy is a legitimate concern, and the legal system has procedures in place to accommodate it. At Sommers Schwartz, we can walk you through what anonymity looks like in practice and help you make an informed decision about how you want to proceed.

More Resources About Clergy Abuse

• Diocese of Providence Clergy Abuse
• Father John Abruzzese
• Father Raymond Allard
• Father Argencourt
• Father Azzarone
• Father Barnes
• Father Battel
• Father Belhumeur
• Father Bordignon
• Father Dennis Brodeur
• Father Campbell
• Father Carpentier
• Father Cavanaugh
• Father Charland
• Father Corbesero
• Father Crafton
• Father DeAngelis
• Father Louis Demers
• Father Albert Desrosiers
• Father Paul Desrosiers
• Father Diogo
• Father Dolan
• Father Doran
• Father Dunn
• Father Dziob
• Father Edes
• Father Feeney
• Father Oscar Ferland
• Father Ferry
• Father Fitzgerald
• Father Flanagan
• Father Gagnon
• Father Gillooly
• Father Gorton
• Father Guertin
• Father Holden
• Father James Jackson
• Father Edward Kelley
• Father Lacasse
• Father LaMountain
• Father Leboeuf
• Father Paul Henry Leech
• Father Lepire
• Father Lonardo
• Father Philip Magaldi
• Father Manu
• Father Normand Marcantonio
• Father Joseph McCra
• Father McIntyre
• Father Meehan
• Father Meglio
• Father Menard
• Father Micarelli
• Father O’Connell
• Father J.F. O’Neil
• Father W. O’Neill
• Father Powers
• Father Rafferty
• Father Raiche
• Father Reynolds
• Father Rocha
• Father Sadowski
• Father Santagata
• Father Francis Santilli
• Father John Scagnelli
• Father Smyth
• Father Tanguay
• Father Tedeschi
• Father Tormey
• Father Tousignant
• Father Turillo
• Father Ventre