Father Norman Leboeuf is named on the Rhode Island Attorney General’s list of credibly accused clergy within the Diocese of Providence. If you or someone you love was harmed by Father Leboeuf, you are not alone, and what happened to you was not your fault. Survivors across Rhode Island are now stepping forward, and a new state law signed in 2026 has opened a real path to civil justice, even for those who believed their time had run out.

Table of Contents

• Who Is Father Norman Leboeuf and What Did the Attorney General Find?
• How the Diocese of Providence Enabled Clergy Abuse for Decades
• Rhode Island’s 2026 Child Sexual Abuse Law and What It Means for Survivors
• Why Survivors of Father Leboeuf May Have Waited Decades to Come Forward
• How Sommers Schwartz Helps Survivors of Clergy Sexual Abuse in Rhode Island
• FAQs About Father Leboeuf and Rhode Island Clergy Abuse Claims

Who Is Father Norman Leboeuf and What Did the Attorney General Find?

Father Norman Leboeuf appears by name on the Rhode Island Attorney General’s list of credibly accused clergy connected to the Diocese of Providence. That list was the product of a sweeping multi-year investigation into child sexual abuse inside the Diocese.

Leboeuf was not on the Diocese’s original list of the credibly accused. When his name did not appear on that initial 2019 list, an alleged victim asked, “Is there an insinuation because there is an omission that my report was less than credible?”

The victim said that when he was 14 or 15, in 1965 or 1966, Leboeuf repeatedly tried to sexually abuse him, according to the report. When asked why Leboeuf was not on the 2019 list, a diocesan spokeswoman said the Diocese would have no further comment, and would not disclose his assignments in Rhode Island or when he retired from ministry.

Appendix A of the Attorney General’s report 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 office’s possession. In deciding whether to include an accused individual, the Attorney General relied on records voluntarily produced by the Diocese, as well as law enforcement records, records of criminal and civil proceedings, victim and witness interviews, and publicly available information.

The Diocese’s silence on Leboeuf’s assignment history is itself significant. Survivors who were abused by priests whose names were withheld from public lists often spent years wondering whether they were believed. If you are one of those survivors, your experience matters and your account deserves to be heard by an attorney who understands what you went through.

How the Diocese of Providence Enabled Clergy Abuse for Decades

The Rhode Island Attorney General’s investigation, launched in 2019, reviewed more than 250,000 pages of church records dating back to 1950, exposing what investigators described as a culture of secrecy, denial, and cover-ups inside the Diocese.

Investigators concluded that diocesan leaders often moved accused priests between parishes, sent them to treatment centers, or quietly removed them from public view, rather than reporting allegations to police. The result was that predator priests were allowed to remain in ministry and continue abusing children.

The Rhode Island Attorney General’s report documents this pattern in case after case. For example, when allegations surfaced against Father Roland Lepire at St. Aloysius Church in Woonsocket, diocesan leadership transferred him to another parish rather than removing him from ministry, and a 2023 Rhode Island Supreme Court ruling confirmed that the 2019 statute of limitations law only applied to suits against individual perpetrators, not the institutions or supervisors who enabled them.

That institutional protection is exactly what the 2026 law is designed to address. The Diocese did not just employ accused priests. According to the Attorney General’s findings, it actively shielded them. Attorney General Peter Neronha accused the Diocese of Providence of a “well-worn pattern” of failing to remove dozens of priests accused of child sexual abuse and keeping the abuse secret over decades. Survivors who were harmed by that cover-up now have a legal avenue to hold the institution accountable, not just the individual priest.

Working with a sexual assault lawyer who understands Rhode Island’s clergy abuse history is critical when your claim involves not just a priest but the institution that protected him.

Rhode Island’s 2026 Child Sexual Abuse Law and What It Means for Survivors

Rhode Island’s new law (H-7200a/S-2616a) 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 takes effect on July 1, 2026.

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.

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. 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. This is a major shift. Before this law, many survivors could only pursue claims against the individual priest who harmed them, not the Diocese or other supervisory bodies that covered up the abuse.

All time-barred claims must be filed by June 30, 2028, or they may be forever barred. That deadline is real and firm. If you were abused by Father Leboeuf or any other credibly accused clergy member in Rhode Island, consulting with a sexual assault attorney as soon as possible gives you the best chance of protecting your rights before that window closes.

Why Survivors of Father Leboeuf May Have Waited Decades to Come Forward

Delayed disclosure is not a sign of weakness. It is one of the most well-documented responses to childhood sexual trauma. Survivors of clergy abuse face a unique set of barriers that can make coming forward feel impossible for years, or even decades.

Priests occupy a position of profound spiritual authority. The Rhode Island Attorney General’s report found that accused priests reportedly assured child victims that the abuse was religiously acceptable, or that it was a way for victims to help their abusers become better priests. That kind of manipulation does not just silence a child in the moment. It can shape how a survivor understands their own experience for the rest of their life.

Rhode Island is home to one of the largest Catholic populations per capita in the country, with over 39% of Rhode Islanders self-identifying as Catholic. In a state where the Church holds that kind of presence, the fear of not being believed, of being seen as attacking an institution that family and community hold dear, is very real. Many survivors stayed silent not because nothing happened, but because they did not feel safe speaking.

The 2026 law reflects a legislative acknowledgment of exactly this reality. The lookback window reflects a broader recognition that delayed disclosure is common in cases involving childhood sexual abuse. If you were abused as a child and waited years to seek help, that delay does not undermine your claim. It is a normal response to an abnormal violation of trust. What happened was not your fault, and the law now gives you a concrete opportunity to act.

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

Sommers Schwartz represents survivors of clergy sexual abuse across Rhode Island, including those harmed by priests named on the Diocese of Providence’s credibly accused list. Our attorneys understand the specific legal framework that applies to these cases, including how the 2026 revival window works and how to build a claim that targets not just the individual abuser but the institution that enabled the harm.

Survivors who contact Sommers Schwartz are treated with dignity and care from the first conversation. There is no pressure, no judgment, and no obligation. Our attorneys will listen to what happened, explain your legal options in plain language, and help you decide whether filing a civil claim is the right step for you. You will never have to prove your worth or justify your timeline to us.

Rhode Island law also allows survivors to file civil claims under a pseudonym in certain circumstances. If privacy is a concern, that option may be available to you. A sexual abuse lawyer at Sommers Schwartz can walk you through what that process looks like and whether it applies to your situation.

All time-barred claims must be filed by June 30, 2028. The two-year revival window will not stay open. If you were abused by Father Leboeuf or any other credibly accused priest in the Diocese of Providence, the time to act is now. Contact Sommers Schwartz today for a free, confidential consultation. We are here to help you understand your rights and take the next step on your own terms.

FAQs About Father Leboeuf and Rhode Island Clergy Abuse Claims

Is Father Norman Leboeuf on the Rhode Island Attorney General’s credibly accused clergy list?

Yes. Father Norman Leboeuf is named on the Rhode Island Attorney General’s list of credibly accused clergy connected to the Diocese of Providence. He was not on the Diocese’s original 2019 list, but the Attorney General’s investigation, which reviewed more than 250,000 pages of church records, added him based on the totality of information gathered. A survivor has stated that Leboeuf repeatedly tried to sexually abuse him when he was 14 or 15 years old, in 1965 or 1966.

What is the two-year revival window under Rhode Island’s 2026 child sexual abuse law?

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 window for survivors to bring civil claims that would otherwise be barred by the statute of limitations. The window runs from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2028. During this period, survivors can file suits against institutions and supervisors accused of enabling or covering up sexual abuse, even if the original deadline to file has long since passed.

Can I sue the Diocese of Providence, not just the individual priest who abused me?

Yes, under the 2026 law. Before this law, a 2023 Rhode Island Supreme Court ruling limited the prior 2019 statute of limitations reform to claims against individual perpetrators only, not institutions. The 2026 law specifically addresses that gap. It allows survivors to bring time-barred claims against institutions and supervisors accused of enabling or covering up sexual abuse, which can include the Diocese of Providence and other organizational bodies that knew about abuse and failed to stop it.

What if I am not sure whether my claim falls within the revival window?

The best way to find out is to speak with an attorney. The law has specific rules about who qualifies and what types of claims are covered. An attorney can review your situation, explain whether your claim is eligible under the 2026 law, and help you understand the deadline that applies to you. Consultations at Sommers Schwartz are free and confidential. You are not committing to anything by making that call.

Will I have to publicly identify myself if I file a lawsuit?

Not necessarily. Rhode Island law permits survivors to file civil claims using a pseudonym, such as “Jane Doe” or “John Doe,” in certain circumstances. This option can protect your privacy while still allowing you to pursue a legal claim. Whether you qualify to file anonymously depends on the specific facts of your case. An attorney at Sommers Schwartz can explain this option and help you decide whether it is right for your situation.

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 D’Angelo
• 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 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