Brother Robert Barnes, also known as Brother Peter Barnes, is among the clergy named in the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 Report on Credibly Accused Clergy in the Diocese of Providence. Barnes was a former De La Salle Christian Brother and Diocese of Norwich priest identified in the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 Report of Credibly Accused Clergy. If you or someone you love was harmed by Brother Barnes, or by any other member of the clergy in Rhode Island, you are not alone. A new state law now gives survivors real options, even if years or decades have passed since the abuse occurred. The attorneys at Sommers Schwartz are here to listen, to help you understand your rights, and to stand with you every step of the way.

Table of Contents

• Who Is Brother Robert (Peter) Barnes and What Did He Do?
• How the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 Report Exposed Institutional Failures
• Rhode Island’s New Child Sexual Abuse Law (H-7200A/S-2616A) and What It Means for Survivors
• Why Survivors of Clergy Abuse Often Come Forward Years Later
• How Sommers Schwartz Can Help Survivors of Brother Barnes and Diocese of Providence Clergy Abuse
• FAQs About Father Barnes in Rhode Island

Who Is Brother Robert (Peter) Barnes and What Did He Do?

Born in 1921, Robert Barnes spent 30 years as a member of the De La Salle Christian Brothers religious order, where he was known as Brother Peter Barnes. He later became a priest in the Diocese of Norwich, Connecticut. According to the reference material provided by the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office, Barnes was incardinated as a priest of the Diocese of Norwich on February 23, 1980, and served in various capacities during the 1950s and 1960s as a member of the De La Salle Christian Brothers.

Brother Robert (Peter) Barnes was accused of sexually abusing a child during the 1950s and sexually assaulting a teenage girl in East Providence in 1963. In 2002, a woman reported that Barnes sexually assaulted her in East Providence in 1963 when she was 17 years old and further alleged that other Christian Brothers had sexually abused her sisters. The complainant’s sister reportedly witnessed her assault.

The Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 Report notes that Rhode Island State Police re-contacted both complainants in 2024 and 2025, and each reaffirmed their allegations. That detail matters. It shows that survivors of Brother Barnes did not waver. They came forward, told the truth, and stood by it. What happened to them was not their fault, and their courage in speaking out helped bring this information to light.

While Barnes was not included on the diocese’s own credibly accused list, he is on the Diocese of Norwich, Connecticut’s similar list of accused clergy. Barnes died in 2008 and was later identified in the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 Report on Credibly Accused Clergy in the Diocese of Providence. His death does not close the door on accountability for the institutions that may have enabled or covered up his conduct.

How the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 Report Exposed Institutional Failures

Rhode Island’s attorney general published a 284-page report on sexual abuse in the Diocese of Providence, capping a six-year investigation that began in 2019 through a voluntary agreement with the diocese to survey records stretching back to 1950. The investigation did not just look at individual priests and brothers. It examined what the Diocese knew, when it knew it, and what it chose to do, or not do, in response.

The report identified 75 credibly accused clergy, including 61 diocesan priests and deacons, 13 religious order members, and one extern priest, who allegedly abused more than 300 victims between 1950 and 2011. Brother Barnes is among those named. The report’s findings reflect a pattern that extended far beyond any single individual.

The Rhode Island Attorney General’s Report described how accused clergy were reassigned rather than removed, giving them continued access to children. The report documented cases where bishops moved accused priests to new assignments after receiving complaints, a practice that placed more children at risk. This pattern of institutional concealment is exactly what Rhode Island’s new law is designed to address. Survivors who were harmed not just by an individual, but by a system that protected that individual, now have a legal path forward against the institutions responsible.

Appendix A of the report contains summaries of 72 clergy determined by the Attorney General 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. 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 was a thorough, evidence-based process, and its findings carry real weight.

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

Rhode Island’s new child sexual abuse law is one of the most significant legal developments for survivors in the state’s history. The law amends the statute of limitations for claims of sexual abuse of a child, 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, and takes effect on July 1, 2026.

The legislation (2026-H 7200A, 2026-S 2616A) was sponsored by House Judiciary Committee Chairwoman Carol Hagan McEntee and Sen. Mark McKenney. Governor Dan McKee signed it into law on June 11, 2026. For survivors who believed their window to seek justice had closed forever, this law changes everything.

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. That means survivors who were abused decades ago, including those harmed by Brother Barnes or other clergy in Rhode Island, may now bring claims against the institutions that failed to protect them.

In 2023, the Rhode Island Supreme Court ruled that a 2019 law only applied to suits against individual perpetrators, not the institutions or supervisors who enabled them. The new law directly corrects that gap. 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 clergy abuse, this means the Diocese itself, and any other institution that knew and failed to act, can now be held accountable in civil court.

Going forward, 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. If you are a survivor who is still within those time limits, you also have options. A sexual assault lawyer at Sommers Schwartz can review your situation and help you understand exactly where you stand.

Why Survivors of Clergy Abuse Often Come Forward Years Later

Many people wonder why survivors of childhood sexual abuse wait years, or even decades, before speaking out. The answer has nothing to do with weakness or dishonesty. Abuse by a trusted religious figure creates a profound and lasting trauma. When a priest or brother uses their spiritual authority to harm a child, the psychological damage can be deep and complex. Survivors often feel shame, fear, or confusion, none of which is their fault.

Children who are abused by clergy are frequently taught to trust and obey those individuals without question. When that trust is violated, the child often has no framework to understand what happened or no safe adult to turn to. Many survivors spend years or decades processing the abuse before they are able to name it, let alone report it. The Rhode Island Attorney General’s report acknowledged this reality, and it is precisely why the new revival window law matters so much.

The lookback window reflects a broader recognition that delayed disclosure is common in cases involving childhood sexual abuse. The law does not penalize survivors for the time it took to come forward. If you were abused by Brother Barnes or another member of the clergy and you are only now ready to take action, that is completely understandable. Your experience is valid. Your pain is real. And your right to seek justice has not expired.

Institutional abuse cases, like those involving the Diocese of Providence, are especially difficult for survivors to process. When the institution itself is implicated in covering up the abuse, survivors may feel that no one will believe them or that the system will protect the abuser. Rhode Island’s new law is a direct response to that concern. It holds institutions accountable, not just individuals. Working with an experienced sexual abuse lawyer who understands this kind of trauma can make a meaningful difference in how you experience the legal process.

How Sommers Schwartz Can Help Survivors of Brother Barnes and Diocese of Providence Clergy Abuse

Sommers Schwartz represents survivors of sexual abuse and sexual assault across multiple states, including Rhode Island. The firm’s attorneys understand the unique challenges that come with clergy abuse cases, including the institutional power structures that often allowed abuse to continue for years. If you were harmed by Brother Barnes, or by any other credibly accused clergyman connected to the Diocese of Providence, the attorneys at Sommers Schwartz are ready to help.

Rhode Island’s two-year revival window is now open, but it will not stay open forever. All time-barred claims must be filed by June 30, 2028, or they may be forever barred. That deadline is real, and waiting can cost you your right to pursue a civil claim. The sooner you speak with an attorney, the more time there is to gather evidence, build your case, and file before the window closes.

Sommers Schwartz handles clergy abuse cases with the sensitivity and seriousness they deserve. The firm’s attorneys know how to hold institutions accountable, not just the individuals who committed the abuse. They understand that for many survivors, the Diocese of Providence itself, and its pattern of reassigning accused clergy, is central to the harm that was done. A skilled sexual assault attorney can evaluate your claim, explain your options under H-7200A/S-2616A, and guide you through the process with compassion and clarity.

You do not have to face this alone. Reaching out for a confidential consultation costs you nothing and gives you the information you need to make an informed decision. What happened to you was not your fault. You deserve to be heard, and you deserve the chance to hold those responsible accountable, including the institutions that looked the other way.

FAQs About Father Barnes in Rhode Island

Who is Brother Robert (Peter) Barnes and why is he significant in Rhode Island?

Brother Robert Barnes, also known as Brother Peter Barnes, was a member of the De La Salle Christian Brothers religious order who later became a priest in the Diocese of Norwich, Connecticut. He is significant in Rhode Island because he was named in the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 Report on Credibly Accused Clergy in the Diocese of Providence. The report identified him as a subject of multiple sexual abuse allegations, including the sexual assault of a teenage girl in East Providence in 1963 and the abuse of a child during the 1950s. Rhode Island State Police re-contacted both complainants in 2024 and 2025, and each reaffirmed their allegations.

Can I still file a lawsuit related to Brother Barnes even though he is deceased?

Brother Barnes died in 2008, but his death does not necessarily end your ability to seek civil justice. Rhode Island’s new law (H-7200A/S-2616A), which took effect July 1, 2026, allows survivors to bring claims against institutions and supervisors accused of enabling or covering up sexual abuse, not just the individual perpetrator. If the Diocese of Providence or another institution knew about Barnes’s conduct and failed to act, that institution may be held accountable in a civil lawsuit. The two-year revival window runs through June 30, 2028. Speaking with an attorney now gives you the best opportunity to explore your options before that deadline passes.

What does Rhode Island’s new child sexual abuse law actually do?

Rhode Island’s new law (H-7200A/S-2616A), signed by Governor Dan McKee on June 11, 2026, and effective July 1, 2026, does two things. First, it amends the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse claims going forward, giving survivors more time to file. Future claims must be filed by whichever date is later: 35 years from the date of the abuse, or seven years from when the survivor first connects their adult injuries to the childhood abuse, with the clock starting when the survivor turns 18. Second, it creates a two-year revival window from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2028, during which survivors can file civil suits against institutions and supervisors even if the statute of limitations on their claims had previously expired.

Does the revival window only apply to Catholic Church abuse cases?

No. The revival window applies broadly to survivors of childhood sexual abuse in any institutional setting. The law specifically targets institutions and organizations such as churches, schools, youth programs, healthcare facilities, and sports leagues, as well as supervisors. While the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 report on the Diocese of Providence was a major driver of the legislation, the law’s reach extends to any institution that enabled or covered up the sexual abuse of a child. If you were abused in any institutional context in Rhode Island and your prior claim was time-barred, you may be able to file during this window.

How do I get started if I was abused by Brother Barnes or another credibly accused clergyman in Rhode Island?

The first step is to contact an attorney who handles clergy sexual abuse cases in Rhode Island. At Sommers Schwartz, you can speak confidentially with an attorney who will listen without judgment, explain your rights under Rhode Island’s new law, and help you understand whether you have a viable claim. There is no cost to speak with the firm. Because the revival window closes on June 30, 2028, time is a real factor. The sooner you reach out, the more time your legal team has to build the strongest possible case on your behalf. What happened to you was not your fault, and you have every right to pursue justice.

More Resources About Clergy Abuse

• Diocese of Providence Clergy Abuse
• Father John Abruzzese
• Father Raymond Allard
• Father Argencourt
• Father Azzarone
• 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 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