Father Mario Bordignon is among the clergy named in the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 Report on Child Sexual Abuse in the Diocese of Providence as credibly accused of sexually abusing a minor. If you or someone you love was harmed by Father Bordignon, you are not alone, and what happened was not your fault. Rhode Island law now gives survivors a real opportunity to pursue justice, even if years have passed. The attorneys at Sommers Schwartz are ready to stand with you every step of the way.

Table of Contents

• Who Was Father Mario Bordignon and What Did the Rhode Island Attorney General Find?
• How the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 Clergy Abuse Report Named Bordignon
• Rhode Island’s New Child Sexual Abuse Law (H-7200A/S-2616A) and What It Means for Bordignon Survivors
• Who Can Be Held Accountable Under Rhode Island’s Revival Window
• Why Survivors of Father Bordignon Should Contact Sommers Schwartz Now
• FAQs About Father Mario Bordignon and Rhode Island Clergy Abuse Claims

Who Was Father Mario Bordignon and What Did the Rhode Island Attorney General Find?

Father Mario Bordignon was a priest of the Scalabrini religious order, a Catholic missionary congregation. He was ordained in Italy in 1950 as a member of the Scalabrini religious order. He was not a diocesan priest of the Diocese of Providence, meaning he answered to his religious order rather than directly to the local bishop.

He arrived in the United States in May 1951 and was first assigned to a parish in New Haven, Connecticut, before moving to Bristol, Rhode Island, from 1959 to 1964. According to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s credibly accused clergy records, Bordignon served at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Bristol during that period. From 1988 until his death in 1992, Bordignon was back in Rhode Island, serving at a Providence parish. Specifically, the Attorney General’s records show he was assigned to St. Bartholomew Church in Providence from 1988 to 1992.

He was named publicly as accused in the March 4, 2026, Rhode Island Attorney General’s Report. In February 2013, a woman reported to the Diocese that in 1964, when she was 15 years old, Bordignon sexually assaulted her on five or six occasions. He was a family friend. She stated the abuse took place during swimming outings in the Palmer River in Barrington.

The Diocese informed the Scalabrinians, whose lawyer responded that any civil claims were time-barred. The Order’s response, dismissing the survivor’s report on procedural grounds rather than reaching out to her directly, reflects the kind of institutional indifference that Rhode Island lawmakers moved to address through new legislation in 2026. That a survivor came forward decades later, only to be told her claims were simply too old to matter, is exactly why the law had to change.

How the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 Clergy Abuse Report Named Bordignon

The Rhode Island Attorney General released a comprehensive report on March 4, 2026, following a multi-year investigation into clergy sexual abuse within the Diocese of Providence. The investigation was sweeping in its scope, examining internal church records, law enforcement files, and survivor accounts that had never been heard in a courtroom.

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. Father Mario Bordignon is among those 75 named individuals. His inclusion in Appendix A of the report, page 37, confirms that the Attorney General found a reasonable basis to believe the alleged misconduct more likely than not occurred.

Mario Bordignon was not included on the Diocese’s own credibly accused list. He was a non-diocesan priest of the Scalabrini Order. That distinction matters legally. Because he belonged to a religious order rather than the Diocese of Providence, his superiors within the Scalabrini Order may bear institutional responsibility for his supervision and any failure to act on abuse reports.

The Attorney General’s report also documented a broader pattern within the Diocese. The report described how bishops moved accused priests to new assignments rather than removing them from ministry, giving them continued access to children. This pattern extended to priests from religious orders who served within diocesan parishes, raising serious questions about who knew what, and when. Survivors who were abused by a religious order priest like Bordignon deserve to have those institutional questions fully examined through the civil justice system.

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

Rhode Island’s new child sexual abuse law is the most important legal development for survivors in the state in a generation. 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 law is known by its bill numbers, H-7200A in the House and S-2616A in the Senate.

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 critical for Bordignon survivors. The Scalabrini Order’s own lawyer told the Diocese in 2013 that civil claims were time-barred. That defense no longer applies during the revival window.

The law also addresses future claims. 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. For anyone abused by Father Bordignon who has not yet filed, speaking with a sexual assault lawyer in Rhode Island right away is the most important step you can take before the June 30, 2028, deadline closes.

Who Can Be Held Accountable Under Rhode Island’s Revival Window

One of the most significant features of H-7200A/S-2616A is that it allows claims against institutions and supervisors, not just individual abusers. This matters enormously in cases involving Father Bordignon, because he died in December 1992. Filing a claim against a deceased individual presents legal challenges, but the institution that supervised him may still be held accountable.

The new law specifically targets institutions and organizations such as churches, schools, youth programs, healthcare facilities, and sports leagues, as well as supervisors. In Bordignon’s case, that means the Scalabrini Missionaries, the religious order to which he belonged, could potentially face civil liability if it knew about abuse allegations and failed to act, or if it concealed misconduct from the public and from law enforcement.

The Diocese of Providence also assigned Bordignon to serve at St. Bartholomew Church in Providence from 1988 to 1992. Any institution that placed him in a position of trust and access to potential victims, while aware of prior allegations, may bear responsibility under Rhode Island law. By temporarily suspending the statute of limitations for these claims, the legislation offers those who suffered trauma decades ago a chance to seek justice against a perpetrator and any other party that may have had some level of involvement in the claims, regardless of how much time has passed.

If you were abused at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Bristol, at St. Bartholomew Church in Providence, or anywhere else where Father Bordignon had access to you, the revival window may apply to your situation. Reaching out to a knowledgeable sexual abuse lawyer is the right first step toward understanding your options.

Why Survivors of Father Bordignon Should Contact Sommers Schwartz Now

You may have carried this for years, or even decades. You may have believed the law was not on your side. The Scalabrini Order’s own lawyers said as much in 2013, when they told the Diocese that claims were time-barred. That response silenced one survivor. Rhode Island’s new law exists, in part, because that kind of institutional stonewalling should never be the final word.

The revival window opened on July 1, 2026, and it closes permanently on June 30, 2028. All time-barred claims must be filed by June 30, 2028, or they may be forever barred. That is a firm deadline. Waiting is the one thing that could eliminate your options entirely.

Sommers Schwartz represents survivors across Rhode Island and throughout the country. Our attorneys understand the Diocese of Providence clergy abuse cases, the role of religious orders like the Scalabrinians, and how institutional cover-ups shape civil claims. We handle these cases with the care and discretion that survivors deserve. We also understand that coming forward is one of the hardest decisions a person can make, and we will never pressure you or judge you for how long it took.

If you want to understand your rights without committing to anything, that conversation starts with a free, confidential consultation. You can speak with a compassionate sexual assault attorney at Sommers Schwartz who will listen, answer your questions honestly, and help you decide what the right next step looks like for you. What happened to you was wrong. You deserve to be heard, and you deserve the chance to hold those responsible accountable.

FAQs About Father Mario Bordignon and Rhode Island Clergy Abuse Claims

Was Father Mario Bordignon officially listed as credibly accused by the Diocese of Providence?

Father Bordignon was not included on the Diocese of Providence’s own credibly accused clergy list because he was a member of the Scalabrini religious order, not a diocesan priest. However, he was named in Appendix A of the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 Report on Child Sexual Abuse in the Diocese of Providence, which identified him as credibly accused based on the totality of evidence available to the Attorney General’s Office. That designation carries significant weight and is the basis for potential civil claims against the institutions that supervised him.

Father Bordignon died in 1992. Can I still file a claim related to his abuse?

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 allowing survivors to bring claims against institutions and supervisors accused of enabling or covering up sexual abuse. Even though Bordignon is deceased, the Scalabrini Order and any other institution that placed him in positions of access and failed to act on abuse reports may still face civil liability. An attorney can evaluate the specific facts of your situation and identify which parties may be responsible.

What is the deadline to file a claim under Rhode Island’s new lookback window?

The revival window created by H-7200A/S-2616A runs from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028. All previously time-barred claims must be filed before that June 30, 2028, deadline. Once the window closes, those claims may be permanently barred. Because building a civil case takes time, including gathering records, identifying responsible parties, and filing court documents, survivors should contact an attorney as soon as possible rather than waiting until the deadline approaches.

What if I was abused by Father Bordignon but I am not sure I can prove it?

You do not need to have physical evidence or a prior criminal conviction to pursue a civil claim. Civil cases use a lower standard of proof than criminal cases. The Rhode Island Attorney General’s report already found a credible basis for the abuse allegations against Bordignon, and that finding can be relevant context in civil litigation. An attorney can review what you remember, help identify corroborating records, and advise you on the strength of a potential claim. You should never feel that your experience does not count simply because you lack documentation.

Will I have to appear in court or publicly identify myself if I file a claim?

Not necessarily. Rhode Island courts allow survivors to file civil lawsuits using pseudonyms, such as “Jane Doe” or “John Doe,” in appropriate circumstances. This protects your privacy while still allowing you to pursue justice. Your attorney can advise you on whether anonymous filing is available in your specific case and how to request it from the court. At Sommers Schwartz, we take confidentiality seriously and will discuss all available options with you before any paperwork is filed.

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 Dennis Brodeur
• Father Campbell
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• Father Corbesero
• Father Crafton
• Father D’Angelo
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• 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
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• Father Gorton
• Father Guertin
• Father Holden
• Father James Jackson
• Father Edward Kelley
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• 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
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• Father Meglio
• Father Menard
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• Father O’Connell
• Father J.F. O’Neil
• Father W. O’Neill
• Father Powers
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• Father Reynolds
• Father Rocha
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• Father Santagata
• Father Francis Santilli
• Father John Scagnelli
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• Father Tedeschi
• Father Tormey
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• Father Turillo
• Father Ventre