Monsignor Anthony DeAngelis served the Diocese of Providence for more than four decades and is now formally listed as a credibly accused abuser of children. His name appears on the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Credibly Accused Clergy list, and a survivor’s public account of his conduct helped shape the legal landscape for abuse claims in Rhode Island. If you or someone you love suffered abuse at the hands of Monsignor DeAngelis, you are not alone, and what happened was not your fault. A sexual assault lawyer at Sommers Schwartz can help you understand your rights and your options under Rhode Island’s newest child sexual abuse law.

Table of Contents

• Who Was Monsignor Anthony DeAngelis and What Did He Do?
• The Rhode Island Attorney General’s Report and What It Found About the Diocese
• Rhode Island’s New Child Sexual Abuse Law Opens a Two-Year Window for Survivors
• What a Civil Claim Against the Diocese of Providence Can Look Like
• Why Survivors of Monsignor DeAngelis Should Act Now
• FAQs About Monsignor Anthony DeAngelis and Rhode Island Clergy Abuse Claims

Who Was Monsignor Anthony DeAngelis and What Did He Do?

Monsignor Anthony DeAngelis was ordained in 1935 and spent the bulk of his priestly career at Sacred Heart Church in West Warwick, where he served from 1936 until his retirement in 1979. He held the elevated title of Monsignor, a rank of honor within the Catholic Church that typically signals a close relationship with diocesan leadership. That position of trust made the abuse he committed all the more devastating for those who experienced it.

Dr. Ann Hagan Webb accused Monsignor Anthony DeAngelis of abusing her from 1957 to 1965 while she attended Sacred Heart School in West Warwick, beginning when she was in kindergarten. That span covers eight years of a child’s life. It is a timeline that illustrates how long abuse can go unaddressed when an institution fails to act.

Webb reported her abuse to the Diocese in 1994, only for church officials to question the veracity of her claims and her mental health treatment. Rather than receiving support, she was met with doubt. That response is not unusual in clergy abuse cases, and it is one of the reasons so many survivors wait years, or even decades, before coming forward.

DeAngelis was accused by a woman who came forward in the 1990s stating that he had sexually abused her repeatedly between 1957 and 1965, beginning when she was five years old, at a parish school. The Diocese of Providence paid her $12,500 for therapy expenses in 1996. DeAngelis died in 1990, and his name was later added to the diocesan list of clergy credibly accused of abusing a minor.

The Diocese’s payment for therapy expenses, rather than a formal acknowledgment of wrongdoing, reflects a pattern documented throughout the Rhode Island Attorney General’s investigation. Institutions often responded to abuse claims with minimal financial gestures while working to protect their own reputation.

The Rhode Island Attorney General’s Report and What It Found About the Diocese

For more than seven decades, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence concealed the sexual abuse of hundreds of children by over six dozen clergy members, according to a long-awaited report released by Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha. That report, released on March 4, 2026, is one of the most comprehensive state-level investigations into clergy abuse in American history.

A total of 72 deacons and priests faced credible accusations of abuse dating as far back as 1950, the 282-page report states. Monsignor DeAngelis is among those named. His inclusion confirms that the allegations against him meet the evidentiary threshold the Attorney General’s office applied across the entire investigation.

Diocese officials mostly cooperated, providing investigators access to more than 250,000 files including treatment records of the accused priests, financial records from civil settlements in clergy sexual abuse cases, and victims’ records. Even with that level of access, the Attorney General noted that the full scope of abuse was likely larger than what the records showed.

Neronha said there was evidence that the diocese had a practice of destroying confidential files when the priests died, according to state investigators. This is significant for survivors of DeAngelis specifically, since he died in 1990. Records related to complaints about him may have been destroyed before investigators could review them.

The report also documented how the Diocese prioritized avoiding scandal over protecting children. Bishops repeatedly transferred accused priests rather than reporting them to law enforcement, a pattern that allowed abuse to continue across multiple parishes and over many years. The Diocese of Providence Clergy Abuse investigation revealed that this was not a failure of one individual, but a systemic institutional response.

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

Rhode Island’s new 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. Governor Dan McKee signed this legislation, known as H-7200a/S-2616a, on June 11, 2026, and it took 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. For survivors of Monsignor DeAngelis, this is a meaningful development. Many of his victims are now in their 60s, 70s, or older, and prior law had long since cut off their right to sue.

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. H-7200a/S-2616a directly addresses that gap. It specifically targets the institutions, such as the Diocese of Providence, that allowed abuse to continue by covering it up or failing to act on complaints.

Future claims must be filed by whichever date is later: either 35 years from the date of the abusive act (or age 53) or seven years from when the survivor first discovers or reasonably connects their adult injuries to the childhood abuse. For survivors who are just now connecting their adult struggles to what happened to them as children, this discovery rule is particularly important.

The window is open now, but it will close on June 30, 2028. That deadline is firm. Survivors who want to pursue civil claims against the Diocese of Providence or other institutions should act without delay. Speaking with a sexual abuse lawyer as soon as possible gives you the best chance to build a strong case before that window closes.

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

A civil lawsuit is separate from a criminal case. You do not need a criminal conviction, or even a criminal investigation, to pursue a civil claim. Civil cases use a lower standard of proof than criminal cases, and they allow survivors to seek accountability directly from the institutions that failed them, not just the individual abuser.

In cases involving Monsignor DeAngelis, DeAngelis himself died in 1990. That means a claim against him personally is not available. However, the Diocese of Providence, as the institution that employed him, supervised him, and responded to complaints about him, can still be held accountable under Rhode Island law. H-7200a/S-2616a was designed precisely for situations like this, where the abuser is gone but the institution that enabled the abuse remains.

Civil claims in Rhode Island clergy abuse cases often focus on negligence and institutional liability. These claims ask whether the Diocese knew or should have known about the abuse, and whether it took reasonable steps to stop it. The Attorney General’s report provides substantial documented evidence that the Diocese did not act appropriately when abuse complaints were raised against its clergy, including in cases where priests were transferred rather than reported.

Survivors can also file civil claims anonymously in Rhode Island courts. Filing as a Jane Doe or John Doe protects your identity while still allowing you to pursue justice. Many survivors find this option makes coming forward more manageable. Your privacy matters, and the legal system has tools to protect it.

Compensation in civil cases can cover therapy costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other harms caused by the abuse. The goal is not to put a price on what happened, but to hold institutions accountable and give survivors the resources they need to heal.

Why Survivors of Monsignor DeAngelis Should Act Now

Coming forward is one of the hardest decisions a survivor can make. There is no right timeline for processing trauma, and many people spend years, or even decades, before they feel ready to speak about what happened to them. The law now recognizes that reality. H-7200a/S-2616a was built on the understanding that delayed disclosure is common, not a reason to deny justice.

If you were abused by Monsignor DeAngelis at Sacred Heart Church in West Warwick, or at Sacred Heart School, you are not alone. As Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha noted, “it’s a living history,” and survivors are still alive and still carrying what happened to them. The Attorney General’s report validates what survivors have known all along: the abuse was real, it was widespread, and the Diocese knew.

Dr. Ann Hagan Webb’s courage in coming forward publicly, testifying at the State House, and speaking at the Attorney General’s press conference helped make H-7200a/S-2616a possible. Her story is a reminder that speaking out can create change, not just for one person, but for everyone who experienced similar harm.

The revival window runs only through June 30, 2028. After that date, time-barred claims may be permanently closed. Waiting is understandable, but it carries real legal risk. The attorneys at Sommers Schwartz represent survivors of clergy sexual abuse across Rhode Island with compassion, discretion, and a deep understanding of how these cases work. As a sexual assault attorney at Sommers Schwartz will tell you, the first conversation is confidential, there is no obligation, and you are in control of every step of the process.

You deserve to be heard. You deserve accountability. And you deserve support from attorneys who take your experience seriously. Contact Sommers Schwartz today to find out whether your claim qualifies under Rhode Island’s new child sexual abuse law.

FAQs About Monsignor Anthony DeAngelis and Rhode Island Clergy Abuse Claims

Is Monsignor Anthony DeAngelis on the Rhode Island Diocese’s credibly accused list?

Yes. Monsignor Anthony DeAngelis is included on the Diocese of Providence’s Credibly Accused Clergy list and is also identified in the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 report on child sexual abuse in the Diocese. His inclusion is based on a credible allegation of repeated sexual abuse of a child over an eight-year period at Sacred Heart School in West Warwick.

Can I still file a claim if Monsignor DeAngelis is deceased?

Yes. Even though Monsignor DeAngelis died in 1990, Rhode Island’s new law, H-7200a/S-2616a, allows survivors to bring civil claims against institutions and supervisors accused of enabling or covering up sexual abuse. That means you may be able to sue the Diocese of Providence directly for its role in failing to protect children from DeAngelis and others like him.

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

The revival window created by H-7200a/S-2616a opened on July 1, 2026, and closes on June 30, 2028. During this two-year period, survivors can file civil suits against institutions and supervisors even if the statute of limitations on their claims had previously expired. Claims not filed by June 30, 2028, may be permanently time-barred.

Can I file my lawsuit anonymously to protect my identity?

Yes. Rhode Island courts allow survivors to file civil claims as Jane Doe or John Doe, which keeps your name out of public court records. This option is available in sexual abuse cases and is commonly used by survivors who want to pursue accountability without exposing their identity. Your attorney can handle the filing in a way that protects your privacy throughout the process.

What should I do first if I believe I was abused by Monsignor DeAngelis?

The most important first step is to speak with an attorney who handles Rhode Island clergy sexual abuse cases. A confidential consultation costs you nothing and gives you a clear picture of your legal options under the current law. The attorneys at Sommers Schwartz can review your situation, explain how H-7200a/S-2616a applies to your specific circumstances, and help you decide whether and how to move forward. You do not need to have all the answers before you make that call.

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 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