The Brothers of the Sacred Heart operated schools in Rhode Island for well over a century, placing members of their religious order in direct, daily contact with children. That long history of access to young people is now under serious scrutiny. Rhode Island’s Attorney General released a sweeping report in March 2026 documenting credible abuse allegations against members of religious orders who served in the state, and at least one Brother of the Sacred Heart is named. If you attended a school staffed by the Brothers and were abused, you are not alone, and you may have legal options right now. A sexual assault attorney can help you understand what your rights are under Rhode Island’s newest law.

Table of Contents

• Who Are the Brothers of the Sacred Heart and What Was Their Role in Rhode Island?
• Brother Roger C. Argencourt and Credible Abuse Allegations at Mount Saint Charles Academy
• How Rhode Island’s 2026 Child Sexual Abuse Law (H-7200A / S-2616A) Affects Survivors
• Why Institutions Can Be Held Responsible, Not Just Individual Abusers
• What Survivors of Brothers of the Sacred Heart Abuse Can Expect When They Come Forward
• FAQs About Brothers of the Sacred Heart Abuse in Rhode Island

Who Are the Brothers of the Sacred Heart and What Was Their Role in Rhode Island?

The Brothers of the Sacred Heart is a religious congregation of men founded by André Coindre, a diocesan priest, in Lyon, France, in 1821. Devoting his life to the restoration of the Church following the Reign of Terror, his chief mission became the moral, intellectual, and religious development of young orphan boys left in distress by the disintegration of family life. That founding mission brought the order to the United States, and eventually to Rhode Island.

In Woonsocket, the Brothers arrived at the elementary school at Precious Blood Parish, known as “Collège Sacré Coeur,” in 1898. The Brothers’ presence and ministry at the school made them the natural choice when the pastor who had invited them had a vision for a boarding high school for boys atop Bernon Heights, and a collaboration of the Brothers, the parish, the pastor, and Bishop Hickey made possible the construction and opening of Mount Saint Charles Academy in 1924.

Mount Saint Charles Academy continues today as a coeducational middle and high school, grades 6 through 12, with a full college preparatory program. After the school at Precious Blood Parish, but before Mount Saint Charles Academy, another school for Franco-American boys was opened in Central Falls, known as Sacred Heart Academy, and it was conducted in a former broom factory along busy Broad Street in the city.

The Brothers were trusted figures in Rhode Island’s Catholic educational system for generations. That trust, as the Attorney General’s 2026 report makes clear, was not always honored. When members of a religious order hold authority over children in a school setting, they carry a legal and moral duty of care. Violations of that duty can form the basis of civil claims, both against the individual who caused harm and against the institution that enabled or concealed it.

Brother Roger C. Argencourt and Credible Abuse Allegations at Mount Saint Charles Academy

The Rhode Island Attorney General’s March 2026 report identified Brother Roger C. Argencourt by name. According to the report, Brother Argencourt, a member of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart religious order, reportedly sexually abused an eighth-grade student at Mount Saint Charles Academy in Woonsocket, where he worked as a teacher, in 1985 or 1986. This is a documented allegation from a state investigation, not a rumor or an unverified claim.

Mount Saint Charles Academy appears in the Attorney General’s report as one of several Catholic schools in Rhode Island where abuse reportedly occurred. The report found that priests and brothers assigned to these schools used their authority to remove children from classes before abusing them. That pattern, where a trusted adult exploits institutional access to isolate a child, is exactly the kind of conduct that Rhode Island’s civil law is designed to address.

The Attorney General’s report also noted that the Diocese of Providence had an inconsistent and often ineffective response to complaints against religious order members. Allegations were frequently referred back to the order itself rather than reported to law enforcement. For survivors of abuse by Brothers of the Sacred Heart at Rhode Island schools, that institutional failure is legally significant. Under Rhode Island law, institutions that enabled or covered up abuse can be held accountable in civil court, and the new 2026 revival window makes that possible even for claims that were previously time-barred.

If you or someone you love was abused at Mount Saint Charles Academy or any other school staffed by the Brothers of the Sacred Heart, speaking with a sexual abuse lawyer is a meaningful first step. What happened was not your fault, and you deserve to know your options.

How Rhode Island’s 2026 Child Sexual Abuse Law (H-7200A / S-2616A) Affects Survivors

On June 11, 2026, Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee signed legislation giving survivors of childhood sexual abuse a new opportunity to pursue civil claims that would otherwise be permanently closed. The Ocean State’s legislation, 2026-H 7200A and 2026-S 2616A, was sponsored by House Judiciary Committee Chairwoman Carol Hagan McEntee and Sen. Mark McKenney.

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. The new law establishes a two-year civil revival window that opens from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2028, during which 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 means that survivors who were abused by a member of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart at a Rhode Island school may now be able to bring claims not only against the individual responsible, but against the order and any institution that knew, or should have known, about the danger and failed to act.

This window is open right now, but it will not stay open forever. All time-barred claims must be filed by June 30, 2028, or they may be forever barred. Do not wait to get legal advice. The sooner you speak with an attorney, the more time there is to build your case properly.

Why Institutions Can Be Held Responsible, Not Just Individual Abusers

Many survivors wonder whether they can pursue a claim if the person who harmed them is deceased, has left the country, or simply has no assets. The answer, under Rhode Island law, is yes, because the claim can be brought against the institution that made the abuse possible.

The Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 report documented how the Diocese of Providence, and by extension the religious orders operating under its umbrella, repeatedly failed to report abuse allegations to law enforcement. Instead, complaints were referred back to the orders themselves. The report found that the Diocese often deferred to a religious order’s representations and any investigation it undertook, without independently verifying whether children remained at risk. That pattern of institutional deference created conditions where abuse could continue unchecked.

Under Rhode Island civil law, an institution can be held liable when it knew or had reason to know that an individual in its care posed a risk to children and failed to take reasonable steps to prevent harm. This theory of liability, sometimes called negligent supervision or negligent retention, applies directly to religious orders and the schools they operate. The Brothers of the Sacred Heart, as an institutional body, had a duty to screen, supervise, and, when necessary, remove members who posed a danger to students.

The Attorney General’s report identified approximately 75 clergy members with credible allegations involving more than 300 minor children, and described patterns in which accused clergy were reassigned and allegations were inconsistently reported to authorities. That systemic failure is not unique to any single parish or school. It reflects an institutional culture that prioritized reputation over child safety, and that culture is exactly what civil litigation is designed to hold accountable.

What Survivors of Brothers of the Sacred Heart Abuse Can Expect When They Come Forward

Coming forward after years, or even decades, of silence takes real courage. Many survivors carry shame that was never theirs to bear. If you were abused by a member of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart in Rhode Island, you did nothing wrong. The abuse was the fault of the person who committed it and the institution that allowed it to happen.

When you contact a law firm like Sommers Schwartz, the first conversation is confidential. You will not be judged, pressured, or asked to prove anything in that initial call. An attorney will listen to what happened, explain your rights under Rhode Island law, and give you an honest assessment of your options. You do not need a police report, a prior lawsuit, or any documentation to have that conversation.

Rhode Island law also allows survivors to file civil suits under a pseudonym in certain circumstances. Filing as a Jane Doe or John Doe can protect your identity throughout the legal process, which matters to many survivors who are concerned about privacy. Your attorney can walk you through whether that option applies to your situation.

Civil claims serve a purpose beyond financial recovery. They create a public record. They force institutions to answer questions under oath. They can compel the release of internal documents that reveal what leadership knew and when. For many survivors, that accountability is as important as any monetary outcome. If you are considering whether to take legal action, speaking with a knowledgeable sexual assault lawyer in Rhode Island is the right place to start.

Sommers Schwartz represents survivors across Rhode Island and brings deep experience in institutional abuse cases. The firm’s attorneys understand how religious orders operate, how internal records are kept, and how to build a case that holds institutions responsible. Reaching out costs nothing, and it could be the step that changes everything.

FAQs About Brothers of the Sacred Heart Abuse in Rhode Island

Was Brother Roger Argencourt officially found to have abused a student at Mount Saint Charles Academy?

According to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s report released in March 2026, Brother Roger C. Argencourt, a member of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart, reportedly sexually abused an eighth-grade student at Mount Saint Charles Academy in Woonsocket in 1985 or 1986. The report is the product of a multi-year state investigation and identifies this allegation as credible. The Attorney General’s report is not a criminal conviction, but it is a formal government finding that carries significant weight in civil proceedings.

Can I still file a lawsuit if the abuse happened decades ago?

Yes. 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 window, survivors can file civil claims against institutions and supervisors that were previously time-barred. If the person who abused you is deceased or no longer in Rhode Island, you may still be able to pursue a claim against the Brothers of the Sacred Heart as an institution or against any other organization that failed to protect you.

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

Rhode Island law defines sexual abuse broadly. It includes unwanted touching of a sexual nature, sexual contact between an adult and a minor regardless of whether force was used, and any conduct that a reasonable person would recognize as sexual in nature. You do not need to have been physically injured to have a valid claim. If an adult in a position of authority, such as a teacher or brother at a Catholic school, engaged in any sexual contact with you as a minor, that conduct falls within the scope of Rhode Island’s civil sexual abuse statutes. An attorney can review the specific facts of your situation and give you a clear answer.

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

Rhode Island courts do allow survivors to file civil suits using a pseudonym, such as Jane Doe or John Doe, in certain circumstances. This is a recognized legal procedure designed to protect the privacy of abuse survivors throughout litigation. Whether anonymity is available in your specific case depends on the facts and the court’s discretion. An attorney at Sommers Schwartz can advise you on whether this option applies and how to pursue it if it does.

Why should I choose Sommers Schwartz to represent me in a Brothers of the Sacred Heart abuse claim?

Sommers Schwartz is a multi-state firm with attorneys who represent sexual abuse and sexual assault survivors in Rhode Island. The firm has experience handling institutional abuse cases, including claims against religious orders and the organizations that supervised them. Attorneys at Sommers Schwartz understand the evidentiary demands of these cases, including how to obtain internal records, how to identify patterns of institutional misconduct, and how to build a claim that holds organizations accountable. Initial consultations are confidential, there is no pressure to move forward until you are ready, and the firm works on a contingency basis, meaning you pay no fees unless your case results in a recovery.

More Resources About Religious Orders & Catholic Institutions

• Congregation of Christian Brothers in Rhode Island *
• Benedictine Monks / Portsmouth Abbey *
• Dominican Friars in Rhode Island (Providence College) *
• Salesians & Other Orders Serving the Diocese *
• Diocese of Providence Compensation Programs & Prior Settlements (History)