Father Alfred Desrosiers was a Roman Catholic priest who served in the Diocese of Providence for more than three decades. His name appears on the Diocese’s official list of credibly accused clergy, and he is one of the 75 priests identified in the Rhode Island Attorney General’s landmark March 2026 report on child sexual abuse within the Diocese of Providence. For survivors who were harmed by Father Desrosiers, or by the institution that protected him, understanding what happened and what legal rights exist today is an important first step toward healing and justice.

Table of Contents

• Who Was Father Alfred Desrosiers and Where Did He Serve?
• How the Diocese of Providence Responded to Abuse Allegations Against Desrosiers
• The Criminal Case, Civil Lawsuits, and What Survivors Faced
• Rhode Island’s New Child Sexual Abuse Law and What It Means for Survivors
• The Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 Report and the Broader Pattern of Institutional Failure
• Your Legal Rights and How Sommers Schwartz Can Help
• FAQs About Father Alfred Desrosiers and Rhode Island Clergy Abuse Claims

Who Was Father Alfred Desrosiers and Where Did He Serve?

Father Alfred Desrosiers was born on March 13, 1935, and ordained as a priest on June 25, 1961. His assignment history included St. Michael Church in Georgiaville, St. Jean Baptiste Church in Warren, St. Joan of Arc Church in Cumberland from 1971 to 1978, Mount St. Francis Day Care Center in Lincoln from 1977 to 1983, and Our Lady of Victories Church in Woonsocket from 1978 to 1993. He also served at Holy Family Church in Woonsocket from 1962 to 1971.

That assignment history spans communities across Rhode Island, meaning Desrosiers had access to children and families in multiple parishes over several decades. He served in roles that placed him in regular, trusted contact with young people, including through the Catholic Youth Organization. That trust, the Rhode Island Attorney General’s report makes clear, was exploited.

A civil lawsuit filed in 1994 accused Desrosiers of molesting a girl, including rape, beginning in 1972 when she was 15 years old. Desrosiers was assigned at the time to St. Joan of Arc in Cumberland, and was also a family friend who was involved with the CYO. A second survivor also came forward. A second lawsuit was filed in 1994 by a woman claiming sexual abuse by Desrosiers in 1975 or 1976, when she was 16 and a St. Joan of Arc parishioner. She had been sent to Desrosiers by her parents for counseling. These were not isolated incidents. Additional reports emerged over subsequent years, involving abuse at Our Lady of Victories in Woonsocket as well.

Desrosiers was removed from ministry on April 2, 1993. He died on February 15, 2001, while criminal proceedings were still pending against him. His death ended the criminal case, but the civil record, and the institutional record, remains.

How the Diocese of Providence Responded to Abuse Allegations Against Desrosiers

The Diocese of Providence’s response to allegations against Father Desrosiers is documented in detail in internal records reviewed by the Rhode Island Attorney General’s office. What those records show is deeply troubling.

In March 1993, a survivor contacted the Diocese to report that Desrosiers had repeatedly sexually abused her starting when she was approximately 15 years old and working part time at the rectory of St. Joan of Arc Church in Cumberland. According to diocesan records, Bishop Gelineau met with Desrosiers, who admitted to having an “affair” with the complainant. The Diocese did not report the allegations to law enforcement at that time.

Instead, Bishop Gelineau arranged a sabbatical program for Desrosiers at Boston College. He wrote a letter of recommendation on Desrosiers’s behalf, describing him as “a priest in good standing,” with no mention of the abuse admission. Desrosiers lived at Regina Cleri in Providence during that period and commuted to Boston. The Diocese continued to pay his salary and covered the cost of the program.

When the sabbatical program coordinator learned of the allegations and visited Bishop Gelineau to express concern, internal diocesan records show that church officials discussed ways to manage the coordinator’s concerns rather than address the abuse directly. A handwritten note confirms Bishop Gelineau approved recommendations aimed at limiting further disclosure. The Diocese did not refer the allegations to law enforcement until 1994, nearly a full year after first receiving them.

The Rhode Island Attorney General’s report described patterns in which accused clergy were reassigned and allegations were inconsistently reported to authorities. The Desrosiers case is one of the clearest examples of that pattern in the entire report.

The Criminal Case, Civil Lawsuits, and What Survivors Faced

The legal proceedings that followed the public disclosure of allegations against Father Desrosiers show both the courage it takes for survivors to come forward, and the obstacles the legal system can place in their path.

On September 13, 1995, a Rhode Island grand jury indicted Desrosiers on one count of rape. He pleaded not guilty, and the case remained pending through multiple court proceedings, including appellate review before the Rhode Island Supreme Court. The case was still pending when Desrosiers died on February 15, 2001. His death terminated the State’s criminal case entirely.

On the civil side, survivors pursued claims against both Desrosiers and the Diocese. Both claims settled, with one resolved in September 2002 as part of a $13.5 million mass settlement involving 36 victims of priest abuse in the Providence Diocese and allegations against 11 priests and a nun. Internal diocesan records also reflect that the original complainant’s civil suit against Desrosiers and the Diocese went to arbitration and settled for over $300,000.

For the survivors who came forward, the road was long and painful. Many waited years before the legal system offered any resolution. Some reports involving Desrosiers were received by the Diocese as late as 2012 and 2019, decades after the abuse occurred. That timeline is not unusual. Research consistently shows that survivors of childhood sexual abuse often need many years, sometimes decades, before they are ready or able to disclose what happened to them. The law is finally beginning to recognize that reality.

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

Rhode Island’s legal landscape for child sexual abuse survivors changed significantly in 2026. Governor Dan McKee signed legislation amending the statute of limitations for child victim claims of sexual abuse and creating 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.

This legislation, known as H-7200A/S-2616A, directly addresses a problem that left many survivors without legal recourse. 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. The new law closes that gap.

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 critically important for survivors whose claims were previously blocked by expired deadlines.

For future claims, survivors must file 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.

For survivors of abuse by Father Desrosiers, or by any priest whose conduct the Diocese enabled or concealed, this law creates a real and time-limited opportunity. If you believed your window had closed, it may now be open again. A qualified sexual assault attorney can review your specific situation and help you understand whether your claim qualifies under the revival window.

The Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 Report and the Broader Pattern of Institutional Failure

The Desrosiers case does not exist in isolation. It is one chapter in a much larger institutional failure documented by Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha’s office in a comprehensive report released on March 4, 2026.

The Rhode Island Attorney General released a comprehensive report on March 4, 2026, of a multi-year investigation into clergy sexual abuse within the Diocese of Providence. The 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.

The investigation involved an examination of more than 250,000 pages of documents held by the Diocese dating back to 1950, including personnel files, treatment reports, internal investigation records, diocesan policies and procedures, and other materials. What those documents revealed was a system that repeatedly prioritized institutional reputation over child safety.

The Desrosiers case illustrates exactly how that system operated. When a survivor came forward, the Diocese met with the accused priest, accepted his characterization of events, arranged a program that kept him employed and paid, and delayed reporting to law enforcement. Other priests named in the Attorney General’s report, including those who served at parishes across Rhode Island, show similar patterns. The report made clear that this was not a series of individual failures. It was an institutional one.

The enactment of the new law comes after the release of the report by Attorney General Peter F. Neronha accusing the Catholic 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 within that pattern now have legal tools available that did not exist before. Working with an experienced sexual abuse lawyer who understands Rhode Island’s clergy abuse history can make a meaningful difference in pursuing those claims.

Your Legal Rights and How Sommers Schwartz Can Help

If you were sexually abused by Father Alfred Desrosiers, or if you were harmed by another priest within the Diocese of Providence and believe the Diocese failed to protect you, you have rights under Rhode Island law. The revival window created by H-7200A/S-2616A is open now and runs through June 30, 2028. That deadline is firm. Claims that are not filed by that date may be permanently barred.

You do not have to figure this out alone. The attorneys at Sommers Schwartz represent survivors of sexual abuse and sexual assault across Rhode Island and multiple states. They understand the unique challenges that survivors face, including the fear of not being believed, concerns about privacy, and uncertainty about whether a claim is even possible after so many years. None of those concerns should stop you from reaching out.

What happened to you was not your fault. Abuse by a trusted authority figure, especially one shielded by a powerful institution, is a betrayal that no child should ever experience. The law now gives survivors a path forward, and Sommers Schwartz is ready to walk that path with you.

Rhode Island survivors can speak with a compassionate and knowledgeable sexual assault lawyer at Sommers Schwartz in a free, confidential consultation. You can also file a lawsuit anonymously as a Jane Doe or John Doe plaintiff if privacy is a concern. The firm handles cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing unless and until your case is resolved in your favor. Reaching out costs nothing, and it could change everything.

FAQs About Father Alfred Desrosiers and Rhode Island Clergy Abuse Claims

Father Desrosiers is deceased. Can I still file a civil lawsuit related to his abuse?

Yes. Rhode Island’s new law, H-7200A/S-2616A, allows survivors to file claims not just against individual perpetrators but also against the institutions and supervisors that enabled or covered up the abuse. The Diocese of Providence, as the institution responsible for supervising Father Desrosiers, can be named as a defendant in a civil lawsuit even though Desrosiers himself passed away in 2001. The revival window for these institutional claims is open from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2028.

What if I reported the abuse to the Diocese years ago and nothing was done?

The fact that you reported abuse and the Diocese failed to act may actually strengthen your civil claim. Rhode Island’s new law specifically targets institutions and supervisors accused of enabling or covering up sexual abuse. The Attorney General’s 2026 report documented a pattern in which the Diocese received reports and chose not to refer them to law enforcement. If that happened in your case, your experience fits directly within the conduct the new law was designed to address. Speaking with an attorney will help you understand how your specific facts apply.

How long do I have to file a claim under the new Rhode Island revival window?

The revival window opened on July 1, 2026 and closes on June 30, 2028. Any claim against an institution or supervisor that was previously time-barred must be filed before that date or it may be permanently lost. For survivors whose abuse occurred more recently and whose claims are not yet time-barred, the amended statute of limitations allows claims to be filed up to 35 years from the date of the abuse, or 7 years from when you first connected your injuries to the abuse, whichever is later, with the clock starting when you turn 18.

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

Rhode Island courts allow survivors to file civil lawsuits as Jane Doe or John Doe plaintiffs in appropriate circumstances, which means your name does not have to appear in public court filings. This option is especially important for survivors who fear the social or professional consequences of public disclosure. An attorney at Sommers Schwartz can advise you on how anonymous filing works in Rhode Island and whether it is the right approach for your situation.

What does it cost to speak with a Sommers Schwartz attorney about a clergy abuse claim?

There is no cost to speak with an attorney at Sommers Schwartz. Initial consultations are free and completely confidential. The firm also handles sexual abuse cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay no attorney’s fees unless your case results in a recovery. You should never let financial concerns stop you from exploring your legal options, especially when the revival window has a firm closing date of June 30, 2028.

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 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