The Dominican Friars have shaped Providence College since its founding in 1917, serving as professors, chaplains, and campus ministers across generations of students. That deep, trusted presence is exactly what makes allegations of sexual abuse by Dominican Friars so painful, and so important to address directly. If you or someone you love was abused by a Dominican Friar in Rhode Island, whether at Providence College or in any other setting, you are not alone, and what happened 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 and most powerful survivor protection law.

Table of Contents

• Who the Dominican Friars Are and Their Deep Roots in Rhode Island
• Documented Abuse by Dominican Friars Serving in Rhode Island
• How Rhode Island’s 2026 Child Sexual Abuse Law Applies to Dominican Friar Abuse Claims
• The Diocese of Providence’s Role in Overseeing Dominican Friars in Rhode Island
• Why Survivors of Dominican Friar Abuse Often Wait Decades to Come Forward
• How Sommers Schwartz Helps Survivors of Dominican Friar Abuse in Rhode Island
• FAQs About Dominican Friar Sexual Abuse Claims in Rhode Island

Who the Dominican Friars Are and Their Deep Roots in Rhode Island

Since 1917, Providence College has been shaped by the Catholic and Dominican vision, founded by the Dominican Friars of the Province of St. Joseph, drawing on more than 800 years of Dominican tradition rooted in prayer, study, community, and preaching. That is a long time. It is also a long time during which Friars held positions of significant authority over students, faculty, and the broader Rhode Island Catholic community.

The Dominican Order, formally known as the Order of Preachers (O.P.), operates as a religious order within the Catholic Church. The Friars at Providence College are diverse in interests, serving as theologians, economists, mathematicians, and biologists, engaged in everything from entrepreneurship to ministry, comprising dozens of friars and sisters committed to prayer, study, and preaching. This range of roles gave individual Friars broad and sustained access to young people.

That access matters legally and factually. When a person in a position of religious or academic authority abuses that trust, the harm is compounded. Survivors often struggle to process what happened because the abuser was someone they were taught to respect. The Rhode Island Attorney General’s investigation into the Diocese of Providence documented exactly this pattern, finding that abuser priests “capitalized on their access to minors through the Church and sought out frequent and prolonged contact with youth.” Dominican Friars serving in Rhode Island parishes and at Providence College were not exempt from this dynamic.

The Province of St. Joseph, the governing body for Dominican Friars in the eastern United States, maintains its own credibly accused list. The Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office has referenced the Dominican Friars Province of St. Joseph’s credibly accused list of Friars permanently removed from public ministry. That list exists because credible allegations were made and substantiated. If you encountered a Dominican Friar in Rhode Island and experienced abuse, that history is real, and your experience deserves to be taken seriously.

Documented Abuse by Dominican Friars Serving in Rhode Island

The Rhode Island Attorney General’s comprehensive report on child sexual abuse in the Diocese of Providence did not limit its findings to Diocesan priests. It also examined religious order priests, including Dominicans, who served in Rhode Island parishes and schools under grants of priestly faculties from the Diocese of Providence.

One documented case involves Father Joseph Rocha, a Dominican Friar. According to the Attorney General’s report, Rocha was assigned to Bishop Hendricken High School in Warwick from 1977 to 1982. The report states that Rocha reportedly abused a boy three times during the summer of 1982. The first incident occurred on a camping trip to New Hampshire, where Rocha and the child shared a bed and Rocha pressed his pelvis against the child while telling him to remain quiet. Additional abuse reportedly followed on a separate trip to a summer home in Cape Cod. Rocha left the Diocese in 1986 after unsuccessfully seeking to become a Diocesan priest, and he left the Dominican Order shortly thereafter. He was later tried and convicted in 2001 of sexually assaulting a disabled adult. He appears on the Diocese of Providence’s List of Credibly Accused Clergy.

The Attorney General’s report also addressed Father Aaron Joseph Cote, a Dominican Order priest who served in Rhode Island and whose case illustrated the Diocese’s inconsistent response to allegations against religious order priests. The report found that through the early 2000s, allegations against religious order priests were generally referred to their orders and were neither independently investigated by the Diocese nor reported to law enforcement. That failure to act is now directly relevant to civil liability under Rhode Island’s new 2026 law.

The Attorney General’s investigation identified 75 credibly accused clergy, including 61 Diocesan priests and deacons, 13 religious order members, and one extern priest, who reportedly abused over 300 victims from 1950 to 2011. Religious order members, including Dominicans, are part of that documented record.

How Rhode Island’s 2026 Child Sexual Abuse Law Applies to Dominican Friar Abuse Claims

Rhode Island’s new law, H-7200A / S-2616A, is a direct response to the scale of institutional abuse documented in the Attorney General’s 2026 report. 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 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. This is significant. If you believed your window to seek civil justice had closed years ago, Rhode Island law now says otherwise.

For survivors whose abuse occurred more recently, the law also changes the forward-looking rules. Future claims must be filed by whichever date is later: either 35 years from the date of the abusive act (or age 53) 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.

Why does this matter specifically for Dominican Friar claims? The new law specifically targets institutions and organizations such as churches, schools, youth programs, healthcare facilities and sports leagues, as well as supervisors. Providence College, the Dominican Province of St. Joseph, and the Diocese of Providence are all institutions that could face liability under this framework if they enabled or concealed abuse. A sexual assault lawyer at Sommers Schwartz can evaluate which institutions may bear responsibility in your specific situation.

Governor Dan McKee signed the legislation on June 11, 2026. The legislation was sponsored by House Judiciary Committee Chairwoman Carol Hagan McEntee (D-Narragansett, South Kingstown) and Sen. Mark McKenney (D-Warwick). It passed with the explicit goal of holding institutions accountable, not just individual abusers.

The Diocese of Providence’s Role in Overseeing Dominican Friars in Rhode Island

Religious order priests, including Dominican Friars, do not operate in Rhode Island independently of the Diocese of Providence. To minister in the state, they generally require a grant of priestly faculties from the Bishop of the Diocese of Providence. That gatekeeping role carries legal and moral weight.

The Attorney General’s report found that the Diocese had “an inconsistent and often ineffective response to complaints against religious order priests.” Through the early 2000s, allegations against Dominicans and other order priests were typically referred back to the order itself, without independent Diocesan investigation and without notification to law enforcement. That pattern of deference allowed abuse to continue unchecked in some cases.

The Diocese is also a vast institution. According to the Attorney General’s report, the Diocese of Providence is comprised of 178 individual corporations representing parishes, offices, and agencies throughout Rhode Island. The Bishop holds executive, legislative, and judicial authority over the Diocese and is the only member of the corporation known as the Roman Catholic Bishop. That concentration of authority means decisions about how to handle abuse allegations, including those involving Dominican Friars, flowed directly from the top of the institution.

The Dallas Charter, a national Catholic policy framework, and its implementing Essential Norms require that before visiting clergy can be transferred to a receiving diocese, the sending bishop must forward any and all information about sexual abuse of a minor to the receiving bishop. The Attorney General’s report found that the Diocese’s implementation of these requirements was, in its own words, situated “somewhat awkwardly,” raising serious questions about whether warnings about accused Friars were properly received, shared, or acted upon. Survivors who were abused by a Dominican Friar serving in Rhode Island may have claims against the Diocese itself for failing to exercise adequate oversight. A sexual abuse lawyer can help you assess whether institutional liability applies to your case.

Why Survivors of Dominican Friar Abuse Often Wait Decades to Come Forward

Waiting to report abuse is not a sign of weakness. It is one of the most common and well-documented responses to childhood sexual trauma. When the abuser is a priest, a friar, or a person held in the highest religious regard, the barriers to disclosure are even greater. Survivors often fear they will not be believed. They may feel shame that belongs entirely to the person who abused them. Many were told, directly or indirectly, to stay silent.

The Rhode Island Attorney General’s report confirms this reality. It found that in virtually all reported cases, abuser priests “capitalized on their access to minors through the Church” and deliberately cultivated trust with children and their families. Abuse often occurred in settings that felt safe, including rectories, school offices, overnight trips, and family homes. The deliberate nature of that grooming makes it harder, not easier, for survivors to recognize and name what happened to them.

In 2023, the Rhode Island Supreme Court ruled that the 2019 law only applied to suits against individual perpetrators, not the institutions or supervisors who enabled them. That ruling left many survivors without a path to institutional accountability. The 2026 law, H-7200A / S-2616A, was written specifically to close that gap. It recognizes what trauma research has long confirmed: delayed disclosure is the norm, not the exception, and the law should reflect that reality.

If you were abused by a Dominican Friar at Providence College, in a Rhode Island parish, or in any other setting, you do not need to have reported it immediately. You do not need to have a criminal case. You do not need to prove you are “over” what happened. You simply need to speak with an attorney who understands how these cases work and who will treat your experience with the seriousness it deserves.

How Sommers Schwartz Helps Survivors of Dominican Friar Abuse in Rhode Island

Sommers Schwartz represents survivors of sexual abuse and assault across Rhode Island and beyond. The attorneys at this firm understand that reaching out for help takes courage, and they are committed to making that process as straightforward and respectful as possible. You will never be judged for what happened to you, and you will never be pressured to move faster than you are ready to move.

Cases involving Dominican Friars and institutions like Providence College or the Diocese of Providence require attorneys who understand both the law and the institutional structures that allowed abuse to happen. Sommers Schwartz has the resources and the commitment to investigate those structures, identify all potentially liable parties, and build a case that reflects the full scope of what you experienced.

The two-year revival window created by H-7200A / S-2616A opened on July 1, 2026, and closes on June 30, 2028. That deadline is real. If your claim was previously time-barred, this window may be your only opportunity to bring it. Waiting is understandable, but time matters. The sooner you connect with an attorney, the more time there is to gather evidence, identify witnesses, and build the strongest possible case.

Sommers Schwartz offers confidential consultations. You can call, email, or fill out a contact form at any time. There is no obligation to move forward, and speaking with an attorney does not commit you to anything. It simply gives you information, and information is power. Reach out today and take the first step toward understanding what justice can look like for you.

FAQs About Dominican Friar Sexual Abuse Claims in Rhode Island

Can I file a civil lawsuit against a Dominican Friar in Rhode Island even 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 running through June 30, 2028. During this period, survivors can file civil suits against perpetrators and institutions even if the statute of limitations on their claims had previously expired. If a Dominican Friar abused you years or decades ago, this window may allow you to bring a claim that was previously time-barred. Contact Sommers Schwartz to find out whether your situation qualifies.

Can I sue Providence College or the Diocese of Providence, not just the individual Friar who abused me?

Potentially, yes. Rhode Island’s 2026 law specifically targets institutions and supervisors accused of enabling or covering up sexual abuse. If Providence College, the Dominican Province of St. Joseph, or the Diocese of Providence knew about abuse or failed to take reasonable steps to prevent it, they may share legal responsibility. The Attorney General’s report documented an inconsistent and often ineffective Diocesan response to religious order priest abuse complaints, which is directly relevant to institutional liability claims. An attorney at Sommers Schwartz can assess the facts of your case and identify all parties who may be held accountable.

What if I never reported the abuse to police or school officials? Does that affect my civil case?

No. A prior police report or official complaint is not required to bring a civil lawsuit. Many survivors of clergy abuse never reported to authorities, often because they feared they would not be believed, because the abuser held significant power over them, or because they were children at the time with no framework for understanding what was happening. Civil claims are independent of criminal proceedings. What matters is your experience and the evidence that can be gathered to support your case, not whether you reported the abuse when it happened.

I am not sure the Friar who abused me is on any official credibly accused list. Can I still pursue a claim?

Yes. Official credibly accused lists, including those published by the Diocese of Providence and the Dominican Province of St. Joseph, are not exhaustive. The Rhode Island Attorney General has acknowledged that the absence of a name from the list does not mean allegations against that person were deemed untrue. It simply means there was insufficient information in the Attorney General’s possession at the time of publication to include that person. Many survivors have valid claims involving clergy who do not appear on any public list. Sommers Schwartz can help you build a case based on your own account and any available corroborating evidence.

How long does it take to resolve a sexual abuse civil lawsuit in Rhode Island?

The timeline varies depending on the complexity of the case, the number of defendants, and whether the matter resolves through settlement or proceeds to trial. Some cases resolve in months; others take longer. What matters most right now is acting before the June 30, 2028 deadline closes the revival window for previously time-barred claims. The sooner you speak with an attorney, the more time there is to build a thorough and well-supported case. Sommers Schwartz will be transparent with you about what to expect at every stage of the process.

More Resources About Religious Orders & Catholic Institutions

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