Father James Campbell was a Roman Catholic priest and member of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (M.S.C.) religious order who served in Rhode Island during the 1970s. He was accused of sexually abusing a teenage boy while assigned to St. Joseph Church in West Warwick, Rhode Island, and was later convicted in Massachusetts for sexually abusing two teenagers. His case is one of the most documented in the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 report on clergy sexual abuse in the Diocese of Providence. If you were abused by Father Campbell, or by any priest connected to the Diocese of Providence, you are not alone, and what happened to you was not your fault. Rhode Island law now gives survivors a real path to justice.

Table of Contents

• Who Was Father James Campbell and What Did He Do in Rhode Island?
• How the Diocese of Providence Responded to Complaints About Father Campbell
• Father Campbell’s Criminal Conviction and Removal from the Priesthood
• Rhode Island’s New Child Sexual Abuse Law Opens a Window for Survivors
• What Survivors of Father Campbell Can Do Right Now
• FAQs About Father Campbell in Rhode Island

Who Was Father James Campbell and What Did He Do in Rhode Island?

Father James Campbell was born on June 25, 1945, ordained on May 27, 1972, and served as a priest in Rhode Island from 1975 to 1977. According to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office, his assignment history in the state included St. Joseph Church in West Warwick and the Rhode Island Medical Center in Cranston.

According to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Report, Father James Campbell “reportedly sexually assaulted a 15-year-old boy on multiple occasions from 1975 to 1976 in the rectory of St. Joseph’s Church in West Warwick, at a hotel in Narragansett, and once in a hotel near Youngstown, Ohio.” The abuse did not happen in one place. It followed the child across state lines, carried out by a man the boy was taught to trust.

During an interview with diocesan investigators, the complainant stated that he believed Campbell had also abused two brothers around the same period, and one of those individuals had since died by suicide. That detail is devastating. It shows how far-reaching the damage from this abuse truly was.

It was also reported in 2002 that, according to the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart religious order, other complaints had been made against Campbell while he was serving in Illinois. This was not an isolated incident. The pattern of behavior extended well beyond Rhode Island.

After his time in West Warwick, Campbell went on to serve as a missionary in Bogota, Colombia, and later held positions in Illinois and the Marshall Islands before returning to the United States. His assignment history shows a priest who moved frequently, often to new communities where his history was unknown.

How the Diocese of Providence Responded to Complaints About Father Campbell

The Diocese of Providence received a report about Father Campbell’s alleged abuse in 1994, nearly two decades after the abuse occurred. What happened next is deeply troubling, and it reflects a pattern the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 report documented across dozens of clergy abuse cases.

The letter was forwarded to Bishop Louis Gelineau and the Diocese’s Office of Education and Compliance. The Rhode Island Attorney General’s Report found “it does not appear that any investigative action was taken at that time nor was there a referral to law enforcement.” It also did not appear that the Diocese contacted the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart to inform them of the allegations.

In May 2002, after a priest who had originally forwarded the complaint sought a follow-up, the Diocese revisited the matter and interviewed the complainant. Eight years passed between the initial complaint and any meaningful follow-up. During those years, Campbell continued serving in ministry positions in other states.

One of the brothers had independently reported Campbell to Rhode Island State Police in 2000, and State Police records cited in the report describe allegations of repeated sexual abuse in both Rhode Island and Massachusetts during the 1970s. Law enforcement had information. The Diocese had information. And yet the response was slow and incomplete.

This type of institutional failure is exactly what Rhode Island’s new child sexual abuse law, H-7200a/S-2616a, was designed to address. When institutions protect their own reputation instead of the children in their care, survivors deserve the right to hold those institutions accountable in court. The Rhode Island Attorney General’s report on the Diocese of Providence documented this pattern across case after case, and Father Campbell’s story is one of the clearest examples.

Father Campbell’s Criminal Conviction and Removal from the Priesthood

Father Campbell’s abuse eventually reached the criminal justice system, though it took decades. In 2004, Campbell was convicted in Massachusetts of charges involving the sexual abuse of two teenagers, was laicized in 2005, and died in 2007. His removal from the priesthood came only after a criminal conviction, not because the Church acted on its own to protect children.

He was convicted in December 2004 of the abuse of two teenagers, one a girl, in Uxbridge, Massachusetts between 1975 and 1978. He was sentenced in January 2005 to 90 days in a house of corrections and 10 years’ probation, and was required to register as a sex offender.

Campbell is included on the Diocese of Providence’s List of Credibly Accused Clergy, the Diocese of Rockford’s List of Credibly Accused Clergy, the Illinois Attorney General’s 2023 Report, the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 Report, and the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart accountability list. His name appears across multiple states and multiple investigations. That tells you something important: he was not stopped early, and the damage he caused crossed many boundaries.

Campbell died in 2007. His death does not end the legal story for survivors. Civil claims in Rhode Island can still be brought against the institutions and supervisors who enabled or concealed his abuse. A sexual abuse lawyer experienced in Diocese of Providence cases can help you understand what options remain open to you right now.

Rhode Island’s New Child Sexual Abuse Law Opens a Window for Survivors

Rhode Island’s child sexual abuse law, H-7200a/S-2616a, is a major turning point for survivors. 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. If you believed your time to come forward had passed, this law changes that.

A critical part of this law is who it reaches. The new law specifically targets institutions and organizations such as churches, schools, youth programs, healthcare facilities and sports leagues, as well as supervisors. In the context of Father Campbell’s case, that means the Diocese of Providence and the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart order may face civil liability for their roles in enabling or concealing the abuse.

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. This new law directly closes that gap. It was written with institutional accountability in mind, and the Diocese of Providence’s documented failures make it directly relevant to Father Campbell survivors.

All time-barred claims must be filed by June 30, 2028, or they may be forever barred. The window is open right now, but it will not stay open. Speaking with a sexual assault lawyer as soon as possible gives you the best chance to preserve your rights and build a strong case before the deadline arrives.

What Survivors of Father Campbell Can Do Right Now

If Father Campbell abused you or someone you love, you have survived something that was never your fault. The abuse was a crime. The institutional silence that followed was a choice made by adults in positions of power. Neither of those things reflects anything about your worth or your strength.

Rhode Island’s revival window under H-7200a/S-2616a is now open. Rhode Island has joined more than two dozen other states that have enacted laws expanding access to civil courts for child victims of sexual abuse. 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.

Civil cases like this serve a purpose beyond financial recovery. They force institutions to answer for their choices in a public forum. They create a record. They can protect future children. Many survivors describe the act of filing a civil claim as one of the most meaningful steps in their healing, because it shifts the accountability back to where it belongs.

Sommers Schwartz represents sexual abuse and assault survivors across Rhode Island and multiple states. Our attorneys understand the courage it takes to come forward, and we handle every case with the sensitivity and respect that survivors deserve. You do not have to figure this out alone. Reaching out for a confidential conversation costs you nothing, and it could mean everything for your future. Contact a sexual assault attorney at Sommers Schwartz today to learn how we can help you pursue justice within Rhode Island’s two-year revival window.

FAQs About Father Campbell in Rhode Island

Was Father James Campbell ever convicted of sexual abuse?

Yes. Father James Campbell was convicted in Massachusetts in 2004 of sexually abusing two teenagers, one male and one female, in Uxbridge, Massachusetts between 1975 and 1978. He was sentenced to 90 days in a house of corrections and 10 years of probation, and was required to register as a sex offender. He was formally removed from the priesthood, a process called laicization, in 2005. He died in 2007.

Can I still file a lawsuit related to Father Campbell’s abuse even though he is deceased?

Yes. In Rhode Island, civil claims for childhood sexual abuse can be brought against institutions and supervisors who enabled or covered up the abuse, even when the individual perpetrator is deceased. 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, specifically targeting institutions like the Diocese of Providence and religious orders like the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart. An attorney can help you evaluate your options.

What is the two-year revival window and does it apply to Father Campbell survivors?

The two-year revival window is a provision of Rhode Island law H-7200a/S-2616a that temporarily lifts the statute of limitations for civil claims of childhood sexual abuse. It runs from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2028. During this period, survivors whose claims were previously time-barred can file civil suits against institutions and supervisors accused of enabling or covering up abuse. If you were abused by Father Campbell while he served in Rhode Island, and the Diocese of Providence or the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart failed to act on complaints about him, this window may apply directly to your situation.

Did the Diocese of Providence know about the allegations against Father Campbell before he was convicted?

According to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 report, the Diocese of Providence received a complaint about Father Campbell’s alleged abuse as early as 1994. The report found no evidence that the Diocese investigated the complaint or referred it to law enforcement at that time. It also found no indication that the Diocese notified the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart. A follow-up did not occur until 2002, after another priest sought an update. This documented failure to act is central to any civil claim survivors may bring against the Diocese under Rhode Island’s revival window law.

How do I get started if I want to file a claim related to Father Campbell?

The first step is to speak confidentially with an attorney who handles Rhode Island clergy sexual abuse cases. You do not need to have all the details figured out before you call. A lawyer will listen to what happened, explain how the revival window under H-7200a/S-2616a applies to your situation, and help you understand your legal options at no upfront cost. The window closes on June 30, 2028, so acting sooner rather than later gives your legal team the most time to build your case. Sommers Schwartz is ready to hear from you.

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 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