Father John Ferry served as a priest in the Diocese of Providence for over three decades. He is now named on the Rhode Island Attorney General’s list of credibly accused clergy, following a sweeping investigation that documented decades of child sexual abuse across the diocese. If you or someone you love was harmed by Father Ferry, or by the institution that employed him, you are not alone, and what happened was not your fault. A sexual assault lawyer at Sommers Schwartz can help you understand your rights under Rhode Island law and determine whether the new 2026 revival window applies to your situation.

Table of Contents

• Who Was Father John Ferry and What Did the Rhode Island Attorney General Find?
• The Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 Report and the Diocese of Providence
• Rhode Island’s 2026 Child Sexual Abuse Law Opens a New Window for Survivors
• How the Diocese’s Institutional Failures Created Civil Liability
• What Survivors of Father Ferry’s Abuse Can Do Right Now
• FAQs About Father Ferry and Rhode Island Clergy Abuse Claims

Who Was Father John Ferry and What Did the Rhode Island Attorney General Find?

Father John Ferry was born on April 23, 1926, and ordained as a priest on February 2, 1957. He spent the bulk of his ministry at St. Rose of Lima Church in Warwick, serving there from 1957 to 1965 and again from 1973 until his death on April 11, 1988. He also served at Our Lady of Providence Seminary in Warwick from 1962 to 1965, and held editorial roles at The Providence Visitor, the Diocese’s official newspaper, from 1965 through 1973. He additionally served at St. Margaret Church in Rumford and St. Margaret Home in Providence during those years.

The Rhode Island Attorney General’s report notes that Ferry allegedly sexually abused four boys and a young man between the ages of 15 and 18 years old during the 1960s. A victim who alleges he was abused in 1967 first reported the abuse in 2002, according to the report. That gap of 35 years between the abuse and the report reflects a pattern the Attorney General documented repeatedly across the diocese: survivors often wait years, sometimes decades, before they feel safe enough to come forward.

One lawsuit filed on the first day of the revival window involves a man in his 70s who now lives in Connecticut, who says he was abused by Father Ferry when he was a 14-year-old student at Our Lady of Providence Seminary in 1964. The victim claims Ferry convinced him to strip to his underwear under the pretense of evaluating his physical fitness before sexually assaulting him at the priest’s mother’s home.

According to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 Report on Child Sexual Abuse in the Diocese of Providence, Ferry “predeceased all the allegations made against him.” He was also included on the Diocese of Providence’s List of Credibly Accused Clergy. His death does not erase what happened to survivors, and it does not necessarily close the door to civil accountability against the institution that employed him.

The Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 Report and the Diocese of Providence

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 the long-awaited report released by Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha. A total of 72 deacons and priests faced credible accusations of abuse dating as far back as 1950.

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. Father Ferry appears in that appendix. His inclusion is not an allegation made by a single person in isolation. It reflects the Attorney General’s review of diocesan records, law enforcement files, civil and criminal proceedings, and victim interviews.

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 access, there was evidence that the diocese had a practice of destroying confidential files when the priests died, according to state investigators.

The report accused 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. Father Ferry’s assignment history, which spanned parishes, a seminary, and a diocesan publication, placed him in repeated contact with young people during the very years the abuse is alleged to have occurred. The report’s findings about how the diocese handled accused priests, including transfers and silence, are directly relevant to any civil claim against the institution.

Rhode Island’s 2026 Child Sexual Abuse Law Opens a New Window for Survivors

Rhode Island’s new law (H-7200A / S-2616A) 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. Governor Dan McKee signed it on June 11, 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 Father Ferry’s abuse, many of whom are now in their 60s, 70s, or older, this window is one of the most significant legal developments in decades.

In 2019, the General Assembly extended the statute of limitations and gave previously time-barred survivors an opportunity to sue. But 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. The 2026 law directly addresses that gap. It specifically targets institutions, closing the loophole that had shielded the Diocese of Providence and similar organizations from civil liability.

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. If your claim was previously time-barred, the revival window may be your opportunity to act. The window closes on June 30, 2028, and will not reopen.

How the Diocese’s Institutional Failures Created Civil Liability

Father Ferry’s death in 1988 means he cannot be sued directly. But civil liability does not begin and end with the individual perpetrator. Rhode Island law allows survivors to pursue claims against institutions and supervisors who knew about abuse, failed to act, or actively concealed it. The 2026 revival window was written precisely to reach this kind of institutional accountability.

The Attorney General’s report documents a systemic pattern across the Diocese of Providence. The investigation found that accused priests were repeatedly returned to ministry. The report also details how diocesan leadership transferred priests following abuse complaints, often without any documented reason. Father Ferry served at a seminary, a position that gave him direct access to young students, during the same period survivors say the abuse occurred. The question of what the Diocese knew, and when, is central to any civil claim.

Across the broader report, the pattern is consistent. The Rhode Island Attorney General’s investigation found that historically, the diocese did not report any complaints of sexual abuse of children to law enforcement. Even in the 1990s, when reporting began to improve, the diocese still withheld complaints about priests who were still living. This institutional silence is exactly the kind of conduct that the 2026 law targets. A sexual abuse lawyer at Sommers Schwartz can help evaluate whether the Diocese’s actions or inactions in connection with Father Ferry support a civil claim against the institution.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence and churches across Rhode Island faced 33 state lawsuits and at least one federal complaint alleging decades of sexual abuse committed by clergy and other officials, just on the first day victims could file complaints under the two-year revival window allowing previously expired claims against institutions such as the diocese to begin again. The volume of filings on day one reflects how many survivors have been waiting for exactly this moment.

What Survivors of Father Ferry’s Abuse Can Do Right Now

Coming forward is one of the hardest decisions a survivor can make. There is no right timeline, and no one should pressure you to move faster than you are ready. At the same time, the legal window created by H-7200A / S-2616A is real and it is finite. Claims that are not filed before June 30, 2028, may be permanently barred. If you were abused by Father Ferry at St. Rose of Lima Church in Warwick, at Our Lady of Providence Seminary, or in any other setting connected to his ministry, your experience deserves to be heard.

You do not need a police report to pursue a civil claim. You do not need to have reported the abuse decades ago. Many survivors who are filing claims under the revival window are doing so for the first time, and the law was written with exactly that reality in mind. Rhode Island also allows survivors to file civil suits under a pseudonym in appropriate circumstances, which can provide a meaningful layer of privacy for those who are concerned about public exposure.

A sexual assault attorney at Sommers Schwartz will listen to you without judgment, explain your options clearly, and help you understand whether a claim against the Diocese of Providence or another institution is available to you. We represent survivors across Rhode Island, and we handle these cases with the care and discretion they require. You are not alone in this, and what happened to you was not your fault. Reach out to Sommers Schwartz today for a confidential, no-cost consultation.

FAQs About Father Ferry and Rhode Island Clergy Abuse Claims

Can I still file a claim against the Diocese of Providence for abuse by Father Ferry even though he died in 1988?

Yes. The 2026 Rhode Island revival window created by H-7200A / S-2616A allows survivors to bring civil claims against institutions and supervisors, not just individual perpetrators. If the Diocese of Providence knew about Father Ferry’s conduct, failed to act, or concealed the abuse, it may be held civilly liable. Father Ferry’s death does not automatically bar a claim against the institution that employed and supervised him.

What is the deadline to file a claim under Rhode Island’s 2026 revival window?

The revival window opened on July 1, 2026, and closes on June 30, 2028. Claims that were previously time-barred must be filed before that date or they may be permanently lost. If you are unsure whether your claim qualifies, speaking with an attorney as soon as possible gives you the most time to gather information and prepare your case.

Do I have to identify myself publicly if I file a lawsuit?

Not necessarily. Rhode Island courts allow survivors to file civil suits using a pseudonym, such as “Jane Doe” or “John Doe,” in appropriate cases. This can protect your identity from public disclosure while still allowing your case to move forward. An attorney can advise you on whether anonymous filing is available and appropriate in your specific situation.

What does “credibly accused” mean in the context of the Attorney General’s report?

The Rhode Island Attorney General applied a specific standard before placing any clergy member on the credibly accused list. The determination was based on the totality of available information, including diocesan records, law enforcement files, civil and criminal proceedings, and victim interviews. Being listed as credibly accused means the Attorney General found sufficient evidence to conclude that the allegations were credible. It is not a criminal conviction, but it carries significant weight in civil proceedings.

How does Sommers Schwartz handle these cases, and what does it cost to consult?

Sommers Schwartz represents survivors of clergy sexual abuse and institutional misconduct across Rhode Island. Initial consultations are confidential and free of charge. The firm handles these cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay no attorney’s fees unless and until there is a recovery in your case. You can reach out by phone or through the firm’s website to speak privately with a member of the team.

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 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 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