Father William Gillooly served as a Roman Catholic priest in the Diocese of Providence for decades, moving through parishes across Rhode Island from 1957 until his retirement in 1981. He died on September 2, 1989. Years after his death, survivors came forward with allegations that he had sexually abused children during his time in ministry. Those allegations were serious enough that the Diocese of Providence placed him on its List of Credibly Accused Clergy in 2019, and the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office included him in its landmark March 2026 report on child sexual abuse in the Diocese. If you were abused by Father Gillooly or another priest in the Diocese of Providence, you are not alone, and what happened to you was not your fault. Rhode Island’s new law, signed on June 11, 2026, may give you a path to justice that you did not have before.

Table of Contents

• Who Was Father William Gillooly and What Assignments Did He Hold?
• What the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Report Says About Father Gillooly
• How the Diocese of Providence Responded to Abuse Allegations Against Clergy
• Rhode Island’s New Child Sexual Abuse Law and What It Means for Gillooly Survivors
• Your Legal Rights as a Survivor of Father Gillooly’s Abuse
• How Sommers Schwartz Can Help Father Gillooly Survivors
• FAQs About Father William Gillooly and Rhode Island Clergy Abuse Claims

Who Was Father William Gillooly and What Assignments Did He Hold?

Father William Gillooly was born on November 11, 1918, and ordained as a priest on December 23, 1944. His ministry spanned more than three decades within the Diocese of Providence. The Rhode Island Attorney General’s Report shows that Gillooly was the subject of three allegations of the sexual assault of boys, ages 8 to 15, while assigned between 1965 and 1978 to St. Francis in South Kingstown and St. Rita’s in Warwick.

Before those assignments, Gillooly served at a number of parishes across Rhode Island. His documented assignment history includes St. Thomas Church in Providence starting in 1957, followed by St. Teresa Church in Pawtucket, St. Joseph Church in Ashton, and St. Mary Church in Newport. He later served at St. Agnes Church in Providence, Our Lady of Providence Preparatory Seminary High School, and several other parishes including SS. Peter and Paul Church in Warwick, St. Mary of the Bay Church in Warren, and St. Mary Church in West Warwick. His final assignments before retirement included St. Clare Church in Westerly and brief stints at Jesus Savior Church in Newport and St. Mark Church in Cranston.

That breadth of service gave Gillooly access to children across multiple communities over many years. He may have been forced to retire by Bishop Gelineau in 1981 due to a “list of accusations.” The pattern here is consistent with what investigators found across the Diocese more broadly: priests who faced allegations were moved rather than removed.

What the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Report Says About Father Gillooly

In March 2026, the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office released the results of a years-long investigation into priest abuse in the Diocese of Providence, identifying 75 clergy members credibly accused of abusing over 300 victims dating back to 1950. Father Gillooly is among those 75 clergy members named in that report.

According to the report, one survivor described how Father Gillooly went to his home and was friendly with his family. The survivor said his entire family was affected by the abuse and that Gillooly betrayed his parents’ trust and their faith in the Church. The report also notes that Gillooly reportedly abused two other boys during his time as a Diocesan priest.

Gillooly’s alleged victims did not come forward until 2004, 2011, and 2013. That timeline is not unusual. Survivors of childhood sexual abuse often carry their experiences in silence for years, sometimes decades, before they feel safe enough to speak. Shame, fear, and the power that trusted adults hold over children all play a role in that silence. None of that silence is the survivor’s fault.

In conducting its investigation, the Attorney General relied on records voluntarily produced by the Diocese of Providence, as well as law enforcement records, records of criminal and civil proceedings, victim and witness interviews, and publicly available information. The inclusion of Father Gillooly in that report reflects a serious, evidence-based finding, not a casual accusation.

How the Diocese of Providence Responded to Abuse Allegations Against Clergy

The Rhode Island Attorney General’s investigation revealed a troubling institutional pattern. Investigators concluded diocesan leaders often moved accused priests between parishes, sent them to treatment centers, or quietly removed them from public view, rather than reporting allegations to police. The result was that predator priests were allowed to remain in ministry and continue abusing children.

This pattern shows up repeatedly across the Diocese’s history. When parents complained or allegations surfaced, bishops transferred priests to new parishes rather than contacting law enforcement. The Diocese’s own internal records, reviewed by the Attorney General, document decisions that prioritized institutional reputation over child safety. Father Gillooly’s possible forced retirement in 1981 fits this broader pattern: a quiet exit rather than accountability.

The Attorney General’s report also documented how the Diocese used facilities like the Via Coeli treatment center in New Mexico as a destination for accused priests, allowing them to return to ministry after brief stays. Accused priests were also reassigned to hospitals, schools, and youth programs where they continued to have access to children and vulnerable people. Understanding this institutional behavior matters because it forms the legal foundation for claims against the Diocese itself, not just individual priests.

A working with a knowledgeable sexual abuse lawyer who understands how the Diocese operated can help survivors identify all responsible parties, including the institution that enabled or concealed the harm.

Rhode Island’s New Child Sexual Abuse Law and What It Means for Gillooly Survivors

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. 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 a critical development for anyone who was abused by Father Gillooly or any other credibly accused priest in the Diocese of Providence.

Before this law, many survivors were legally blocked from filing civil claims because too much time had passed. In 2023, the Rhode Island Supreme Court ruled that a prior 2019 law only applied to suits against individual perpetrators, not the institutions or supervisors who enabled them. The new legislation (H-7200A/S-2616A) directly addresses that gap. It allows survivors to bring claims against institutions and supervisors, meaning the Diocese of Providence itself can now be held accountable through civil litigation during this window.

All time-barred claims must be filed by June 30, 2028, or they may be forever barred. The window is open now, but it will not stay open. Survivors who want to pursue a civil claim need to act before that date. Speaking with a sexual assault lawyer who handles Rhode Island clergy abuse cases is the right first step.

Your Legal Rights as a Survivor of Father Gillooly’s Abuse

Rhode Island law gives survivors of childhood sexual abuse the right to pursue civil claims for the harm they suffered. A civil lawsuit is separate from any criminal case. You do not need a criminal conviction, and you do not need to prove your case beyond a reasonable doubt. Civil cases use a lower legal standard, and they can result in compensation for the real harm you experienced, including emotional trauma, psychological injury, and the lasting effects of abuse on your life and relationships.

Under Rhode Island law, specifically H-7200A/S-2616A, the revival window applies to claims against institutions and supervisors who enabled or covered up abuse. That means if the Diocese of Providence knew or should have known about Father Gillooly’s conduct and failed to act, or if supervisors within the Church shielded him from accountability, those institutions may be held responsible in a civil lawsuit filed during the window.

You also have the right to pursue your case anonymously. Rhode Island courts allow survivors to file as “Jane Doe” or “John Doe” in cases involving sexual abuse, which means your name does not have to appear in public court records. That protection can make it easier for survivors who fear exposure to come forward and assert their rights.

Reaching out to an experienced sexual assault attorney does not commit you to anything. It simply gives you information about your options so you can make the decision that is right for you.

How Sommers Schwartz Can Help Father Gillooly Survivors

Sommers Schwartz is a multi-state law firm with attorneys representing survivors of sexual abuse and assault in Rhode Island and beyond. The firm understands that coming forward is one of the hardest decisions a survivor can make. The attorneys at Sommers Schwartz approach every case with compassion, confidentiality, and a commitment to holding institutions accountable for the harm they allowed to happen.

The two-year revival window created by H-7200A/S-2616A is now open, but it will close on June 30, 2028. Building a civil case against the Diocese of Providence or its supervisors takes time. Gathering records, identifying witnesses, and constructing a legal argument all require careful preparation. Starting that process now gives your case the best possible foundation.

You do not have to carry this alone. What Father Gillooly did was wrong. What the Diocese of Providence did, or failed to do, compounded that wrong. The law now gives you a real opportunity to seek accountability. Sommers Schwartz is ready to listen, answer your questions, and stand with you through every step of the process. Contact the firm today for a free, confidential consultation.

FAQs About Father William Gillooly and Rhode Island Clergy Abuse Claims

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

Yes. The civil revival window created by H-7200A/S-2616A allows survivors to bring claims against institutions and supervisors, not just individual priests. Even though Father Gillooly died in 1989, the Diocese of Providence, as the institution that employed and supervised him, may still be named as a defendant in a civil lawsuit. The focus of many clergy abuse claims is on what the institution knew, when it knew it, and what it failed to do to protect children.

What does the two-year revival window actually mean for my case?

It means that even if your claim was previously blocked by the statute of limitations, you may now be able to file a civil lawsuit. 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 window running through June 30, 2028. During that period, otherwise time-barred claims against institutions and supervisors accused of enabling or covering up sexual abuse of a child can be filed in civil court.

I was abused decades ago. Is it too late to come forward?

Not necessarily. The revival window was created specifically because the Rhode Island legislature recognized that survivors often take years, even decades, to come forward. The law does not require you to explain why it took so long. What matters is that you file your civil claim before June 30, 2028. Speaking with an attorney now gives you time to understand your options and prepare your case properly before that deadline.

Will my name be made public if I file a lawsuit?

Rhode Island courts allow survivors of sexual abuse to file civil lawsuits anonymously, using the designation “Jane Doe” or “John Doe.” This means your identity does not have to appear in public court filings. Protecting your privacy is something Sommers Schwartz takes seriously, and your attorney can walk you through how anonymous filing works and whether it applies to your specific situation.

How do I know if my experience qualifies as a claim under Rhode Island law?

The best way to find out is to speak with an attorney. There is no cost or obligation to have that conversation. Rhode Island law covers a broad range of sexual abuse and misconduct involving minors, and the new revival window applies to claims against institutions and supervisors in cases where the abuse was enabled or covered up. An attorney at Sommers Schwartz can review the facts of your situation, explain what the law allows, and help you decide whether filing a claim is the right step for 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
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• Father Charland
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• Father Albert Desrosiers
• Father Paul Desrosiers
• Father Diogo
• Father Dolan
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• Father Dunn
• Father Dziob
• Father Edes
• Father Feeney
• Father Oscar Ferland
• Father Ferry
• Father Fitzgerald
• Father Flanagan
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• Father Gorton
• Father Guertin
• Father Holden
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• Father Edward Kelley
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• Father Lonardo
• Father Philip Magaldi
• Father Manu
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• Father Joseph McCra
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• Father J.F. O’Neil
• Father W. O’Neill
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• Father Ventre