Father Robert Carpentier served as a Catholic priest in the Diocese of Providence for decades, moving through parishes across Rhode Island before a survivor’s family came forward in 1992 with allegations that changed everything. According to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Report on Child Sexual Abuse in the Diocese of Providence, Carpentier admitted to sexually abusing a 13-year-old boy in the 1970s. What followed was not justice. It was a years-long pattern of concealment, institutional protection, and silence that left the survivor without accountability for decades. If you were harmed by Father Carpentier, or by another priest in the Diocese of Providence, you are not alone, and your window to seek civil justice may now be open.

Table of Contents

• Who Was Father Robert Carpentier and Where Did He Serve?
• What the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Report Reveals About Father Carpentier
• How the Diocese of Providence Covered Up Father Carpentier’s Abuse
• Rhode Island’s New Child Sexual Abuse Law Gives Survivors a Real Path Forward
• What a Civil Claim Against the Diocese of Providence Can Look Like
• You Deserve to Be Heard: How Sommers Schwartz Can Help
• FAQs About Father Carpentier and Rhode Island Clergy Abuse Claims

Who Was Father Robert Carpentier and Where Did He Serve?

Father Robert Carpentier was born on February 12, 1941, ordained on June 3, 1967, and served parishes across Rhode Island for more than two decades. His assignment history, as documented in the Rhode Island Attorney General’s credibly accused clergy list, spans multiple communities throughout the state.

Carpentier began his ministry at St. Clare Church in Misquamicut in the summer of 1967. He then served at Precious Blood Church in Woonsocket from 1967 to 1969, followed by St. Agatha Church in Woonsocket from 1969 to 1973. He moved to Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Church in Woonsocket from 1973 to 1976, then briefly served at St. Mary Church in Newport in the summer of 1976.

From 1976 to 1982, Carpentier was assigned to Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in North Providence. His longest single assignment came next, at St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Church in Nasonville, where he served from 1982 to 1992. His final active assignment was at St. John the Evangelist Church in Slatersville in 1992, where he resigned after the abuse allegation became known.

After his resignation, Carpentier took a medical leave of absence at the Institute of Living in Hartford, Connecticut, followed by a sabbatical at Boston College from 1992 to 1994. He then remained on a leave of absence until his official retirement in 2006. He remained on a “leave of absence” until his official retirement in 2006 and received support from the diocese until he died in 2012. He passed away on May 9, 2012.

What the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Report Reveals About Father Carpentier

The Rhode Island Attorney General’s Report on Child Sexual Abuse in the Diocese of Providence, released in March 2026 after a multiyear investigation led by Attorney General Peter Neronha, documents the Carpentier case in detail. The findings are deeply troubling.

According to the report, in 1992, the family of a survivor contacted the Diocese to report that Carpentier had sexually abused their child in the 1970s, when the victim was 13 years old. The abuse occurred while Carpentier was serving as pastor, and it included fondling, masturbation, and oral sex, continuing for over a year. The victim’s mother stated she had confronted Carpentier directly, and he had admitted to the abuse before the family even reported it to the Diocese.

When Diocese officials, including Bishop Gelineau and Auxiliary Bishop Angell, met with Carpentier, he again admitted the abuse. Despite that admission, the Diocese did not report the abuse to law enforcement. The Diocese instead sent Carpentier for an evaluation at the Institute of Living in Hartford, Connecticut. Remarkably, the evaluation concluded there was “no problem that needs attention,” and Carpentier was deemed not a pedophile.

The report further reveals that in September 1992, the Diocese funded a sabbatical for Carpentier at Boston College’s “Sabbatical Renewal in Ministry” program, without disclosing to Boston College that Carpentier had admitted to sexually abusing a child. When the survivor filed a civil lawsuit that October, Bishop Gelineau’s internal notes stated they needed to “buy time till the court case is resolved.” Carpentier was advised to keep a “very low profile,” and the Diocese continued to pay his salary, room and board, and tuition.

The investigation found that 75 Catholic clergy molested more than 300 victims since 1950, but officials stressed that the number of victimized children and abusive priests is likely much higher. The Carpentier case is one of the clearest examples in the report of how the Diocese prioritized its own reputation over the safety of children.

How the Diocese of Providence Covered Up Father Carpentier’s Abuse

The Diocese of Providence did not protect the child Carpentier abused. It protected Carpentier. The pattern of concealment documented in the Attorney General’s report is systematic and deliberate.

After Carpentier admitted the abuse, the Diocese framed his departure as a “medical leave of absence” due to “mental tiredness and anxieties.” His parishioners at St. John the Evangelist Church in North Smithfield received a letter using that language. Nothing in that letter told them the truth. The Diocese sent him to a treatment center, received a report saying he was not a pedophile, and then placed him on a paid sabbatical at a Catholic university.

The sabbatical was not a therapeutic program. The Attorney General’s report makes clear that diocesan sabbaticals were used as a tool to remove accused priests from their assignments, quiet speculation, and avoid scandal, not to provide meaningful mental health treatment. Carpentier’s case is a direct example of that pattern.

When the survivor’s civil lawsuit was filed in October 1992, the Diocese did not cooperate with transparency. Instead, internal memos show that diocesan leadership focused on managing the situation until the lawsuit was resolved. The Diocese continued paying Carpentier’s salary and expenses through Monsignor Evans, who authorized payments “from January 1994 until further notice.”

The survivor’s civil lawsuit was ultimately part of the landmark 2002 settlement between the Diocese of Providence and 36 survivors of clergy abuse, which resolved for $13.5 million. Carpentier was never criminally prosecuted. He was never punished. He retired in 2006, continued receiving diocesan support, and died in May 2012.

This is not an isolated story. The same report documents similar patterns involving other credibly accused priests across the Diocese, including those assigned to parishes in Woonsocket, North Providence, Cranston, and communities throughout Rhode Island.

Rhode Island’s New Child Sexual Abuse Law Gives Survivors a Real Path Forward

For survivors who believed their time to pursue justice had passed, Rhode Island’s new law changes that. 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. He signed the legislation, known as H-7200A and S-2616A, on June 11, 2026.

The new law took effect on July 1, 2026. Its enactment comes after the release of a report in March 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.

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 a direct response to a 2023 Rhode Island Supreme Court ruling that a prior 2019 statute of limitations reform applied only to individual abusers, not to the institutions and supervisors who enabled or concealed the abuse.

That distinction matters enormously in cases like Carpentier’s. The Diocese of Providence, as an institution, is now a proper defendant in claims brought during this two-year window. Survivors who were abused by Carpentier, or by other credibly accused priests in the Diocese, and whose claims against the Diocese had been time-barred, may now have a path to hold the institution accountable.

Talking with a sexual assault lawyer who understands Rhode Island’s new law is the right first step if you are unsure whether the window applies to your situation. Time is limited, and the window closes on June 30, 2028.

What a Civil Claim Against the Diocese of Providence Can Look Like

A civil lawsuit related to clergy abuse is separate from a criminal case. You do not need a criminal conviction, or even a criminal investigation, to bring a civil claim. The standard of proof in civil court is lower than in criminal court, and the goal is financial accountability, not incarceration.

In a civil claim involving Father Carpentier’s abuse, the potential defendants are not limited to Carpentier himself, who is now deceased. The Diocese of Providence, as the institution that employed Carpentier, received his admission of abuse, and then chose to protect him rather than report him or remove him from ministry, can be named as a defendant under the new law.

Claims against institutions typically focus on negligence, negligent supervision, and the intentional concealment of abuse. Rhode Island law allows survivors to pursue these claims when the institution knew or should have known about the abuse and failed to act. The Attorney General’s report provides extensive documented evidence that the Diocese knew about Carpentier’s admitted abuse and chose concealment over disclosure.

A civil claim can also be filed anonymously. Rhode Island courts allow survivors to file as “Jane Doe” or “John Doe” in cases involving sexual abuse, which means your identity can be protected throughout the legal process. Many survivors find that this option reduces one of the most significant barriers to coming forward.

Working with an experienced sexual abuse lawyer who handles Diocese of Providence claims gives you the best chance of understanding what your specific case may involve, what evidence exists, and what the two-year window means for your timeline.

You Deserve to Be Heard: How Sommers Schwartz Can Help

What happened to you was not your fault. Abuse by a trusted religious figure is a profound betrayal, made worse when the institution that should have protected you chose to protect the abuser instead. The shame and silence that so many survivors carry for decades are not a reflection of weakness. They are a natural response to a traumatic violation of trust.

Sommers Schwartz represents survivors of clergy sexual abuse in Rhode Island and across the country. Our attorneys understand the specific history of the Diocese of Providence, the findings of the Attorney General’s report, and how Rhode Island’s new lookback window law applies to claims against both individual clergy and the institutions that enabled them.

We approach every case with care and confidentiality. We listen first. We never pressure survivors to pursue a path they are not ready for. Our role is to make sure you understand your rights and your options so that you can make the decision that is right for you.

The two-year revival window created by H-7200A and S-2616A is open now, but it will not stay open forever. All time-barred claims must be filed by June 30, 2028, or they may be forever barred. If you were abused by Father Carpentier or another priest in the Diocese of Providence, reaching out today gives you time to explore your options without rushing.

Contacting a sexual assault attorney at Sommers Schwartz costs nothing. We offer free, confidential consultations, and we handle clergy abuse cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay no fees unless we recover compensation for you. You have carried this long enough. Let us help you take the next step.

FAQs About Father Carpentier and Rhode Island Clergy Abuse Claims

Father Carpentier is deceased. Can I still file a civil lawsuit?

Yes. The death of an abuser does not eliminate your right to bring a civil claim. Under Rhode Island’s new law (H-7200A/S-2616A), signed by Governor McKee on June 11, 2026, and effective July 1, 2026, survivors can bring otherwise time-barred claims against institutions and supervisors, not just individual abusers. The Diocese of Providence, which employed Carpentier, received his admission of abuse, and then protected him, can be named as a defendant in a civil lawsuit brought during the two-year revival window, which runs through June 30, 2028.

What is the two-year revival window and does it apply to my claim?

The two-year revival window is a provision of Rhode Island’s new child sexual abuse law (H-7200A/S-2616A) that temporarily lifts the statute of limitations for otherwise time-barred claims. It runs from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028. During this period, survivors of childhood sexual abuse can file civil lawsuits against institutions and supervisors accused of enabling or covering up abuse, even if the standard statute of limitations on their claim has already expired. Whether it applies to your specific situation depends on the facts of your case, which is why speaking with an attorney as early as possible is important.

Do I need to have reported the abuse to police to file a civil lawsuit?

No. A civil lawsuit is entirely separate from a criminal case. You do not need to have filed a police report, participated in a criminal investigation, or obtained a criminal conviction to pursue a civil claim. Rhode Island civil law allows survivors to seek financial accountability from abusers and the institutions that enabled them, regardless of whether any criminal action was ever taken. Many survivors of clergy abuse, including those abused by Father Carpentier, never had the opportunity for criminal justice because the Diocese did not report the abuse to law enforcement at the time.

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

Yes. Rhode Island courts permit survivors of sexual abuse to file civil lawsuits as “Jane Doe” or “John Doe,” which means your legal name does not have to appear in public court filings. This option is available in clergy abuse cases and is one that many survivors choose in order to protect their privacy while still pursuing accountability. Your attorney can explain exactly how anonymous filing works and what protections are in place throughout the process.

How do I know if Sommers Schwartz is the right firm for my case?

Sommers Schwartz is a multi-state law firm with attorneys who represent survivors of sexual assault and sexual abuse, including clergy abuse cases involving the Diocese of Providence. We handle these cases on a contingency fee basis, which means there is no cost to you unless we recover compensation. We offer free, confidential consultations so you can speak with an attorney, ask questions, and understand your options without any obligation. The best way to know if we are the right fit is simply to reach out and have that conversation. We are here to listen, not to pressure.

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 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