Father Timothy Gorton served as a Catholic priest in the Diocese of Providence for roughly 30 years. During that time, he was assigned to parishes across Rhode Island, from Cumberland to Newport to Warwick to Woonsocket. In 2012, a survivor came forward with a report that changed everything. If you or someone you love was abused by Father Gorton, you need to know that what happened was not your fault, that you are not alone, and that Rhode Island law now gives you a real path to justice. The attorneys at Sommers Schwartz represent survivors of clergy sexual abuse across Rhode Island and are ready to help you understand your options.

Table of Contents

• Who Is Father Timothy Gorton and What Are the Allegations Against Him?
• How the Diocese of Providence Handled the Gorton Allegations
• Rhode Island’s New Child Sexual Abuse Law (H-7200A/S-2616A) and What It Means for Gorton Survivors
• The Attorney General’s Report and What It Revealed About the Diocese of Providence
• Your Legal Rights as a Survivor and How Sommers Schwartz Can Help
• FAQs About Father Timothy Gorton and Rhode Island Clergy Abuse Claims

Who Is Father Timothy Gorton and What Are the Allegations Against Him?

Father Timothy Gorton was born on February 6, 1956, and was ordained as a priest in the Diocese of Providence on November 20, 1982. He served at parishes across Rhode Island for three decades before his suspension in May 2012. His assignment history included St. Joseph Church in Cumberland, St. Joseph Church in Newport, Our Lady of Providence Preparatory Seminary High School in Providence, St. Mark Church in Cranston, St. Ann Church in Cranston, St. Mary of the Bay Church in Warren, St. Francis of Assisi Church in Warwick, St. Joseph Church in Pawtucket, and St. Agatha Church in Woonsocket.

According to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Report on Child Sexual Abuse in the Diocese of Providence, released on March 4, 2026, a survivor reported to Narragansett police in 2012 that Father Gorton sexually assaulted him inside the rectory of St. Joseph Church in Cumberland and at a beach house in Narragansett in 1983, when the survivor was 12 years old. The report also notes that the Diocese transferred Gorton from St. Joseph’s in Cumberland to St. Joseph’s in Newport a year after the reported assaults took place, and that he was transferred seven times over the course of his 30-year ministry.

Father Gorton is included on the Diocese of Providence’s Credibly Accused List. The Diocesan Review Board, a committee of laity and clergy charged with reviewing abuse allegations, studied the matter and provided its recommendations, after which Father Gorton retired from active ministry and had his faculties revoked by the bishop. He died on June 18, 2021. The fact that he is deceased does not necessarily end a survivor’s legal options, as claims may still be pursued against institutions and supervisors who enabled or covered up the abuse.

If any of this sounds familiar to you, please know that your experience matters. Speaking with a sexual assault attorney at Sommers Schwartz costs nothing and carries no obligation.

How the Diocese of Providence Handled the Gorton Allegations

The Diocese of Providence’s handling of the Gorton case fits a pattern that the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Report documented throughout the Diocese. According to that report, although the Diocese did not produce any records documenting officials’ knowledge of the alleged abuse at the time it occurred, Gorton was transferred from St. Joseph’s in Cumberland to St. Joseph’s in Newport just one year after the reported assaults took place. No documented reason for that transfer appears in his personnel file.

This pattern of transfer without explanation is not unique to Gorton’s case. The Attorney General’s 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. The report shows that Diocesan leadership repeatedly moved accused priests rather than removing them, which allowed abuse to continue across multiple parishes and communities.

Bishop Thomas Tobin’s handling of Father Gorton’s case also drew scrutiny. According to the Attorney General’s Report, in separate referrals to the Vatican between 2012 and 2016, Bishop Tobin cited Gorton’s age and told the Vatican he did not believe Gorton to be a danger to young people. The Vatican ultimately ordered “prayer and penance” for Gorton rather than removal from the clerical state entirely. This outcome meant Gorton was never fully defrocked.

There was no prosecution due to the statute of limitations. That legal barrier is exactly why Rhode Island’s new law matters so much to survivors. The Diocese’s internal response, and the absence of criminal accountability, left many survivors without any form of justice for decades.

Rhode Island’s New Child Sexual Abuse Law (H-7200A/S-2616A) and What It Means for Gorton Survivors

On June 11, 2026, Governor Dan McKee signed legislation that fundamentally changes the legal options available to survivors of childhood sexual abuse in Rhode Island. 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. This is a critical distinction. Survivors who were previously told their claims were too old to pursue now have a defined window to act.

The legislation, known as H-7200A in the House and S-2616A in the Senate, also changes the rules going forward. Future claims must be filed by whichever date is later: either 35 years from the date of the abusive act, or seven years from when the survivor first discovers or reasonably connects their adult injuries to the childhood abuse. The statute of limitations begins running when the survivor turns 18.

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 new law directly addresses that gap. Survivors can now bring claims against the Diocese of Providence and other institutions that covered up abuse, not just against individual abusers. For Gorton survivors, this means the Diocese itself may be held accountable for the transfers and the silence that allowed harm to continue.

All time-barred claims must be filed by June 30, 2028, or they may be forever barred. Time is limited, and acting now gives your legal team the best opportunity to build a strong case.

The Attorney General’s Report and What It Revealed About the Diocese of Providence

The Rhode Island Attorney General’s Report, released on March 4, 2026, is one of the most detailed public investigations into clergy sexual abuse in Rhode Island’s history. 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 Timothy Gorton is among those named.

The report identified approximately 75 clergy members with credible allegations involving more than 300 minor children and described patterns in which accused clergy were reassigned and allegations were inconsistently reported to authorities. These findings drove lawmakers to pass H-7200A/S-2616A and give survivors a real opportunity to seek civil justice.

The report also documented how Diocesan leaders prioritized institutional reputation over child safety. Internal records showed bishops responding to abuse complaints by moving priests, not removing them. In some cases, accused priests were reassigned to hospitals, schools, and other settings where they continued to have access to vulnerable people. The Gorton case reflects this broader pattern, with a transfer occurring shortly after the alleged abuse and no documented investigation at the time.

For survivors who read the report and recognized their own experiences, the findings can be both validating and painful. Knowing that the institution was aware, or should have been aware, of the risk a priest posed, and chose to protect itself instead of protecting children, is a form of betrayal that goes beyond the abuse itself. A sexual abuse lawyer at Sommers Schwartz understands the weight of that reality and can help you pursue accountability from every responsible party.

Your Legal Rights as a Survivor and How Sommers Schwartz Can Help

If you were abused by Father Gorton, or by any clergy member in the Diocese of Providence, you have legal rights. Rhode Island’s civil justice system allows survivors to pursue claims for the harm they suffered, including claims against the institutions that failed to protect them. The new revival window created by H-7200A/S-2616A is the most significant expansion of those rights in Rhode Island’s history.

A civil lawsuit is separate from a criminal prosecution. You do not need a police report, a prior complaint, or a criminal conviction to pursue a civil claim. Civil cases are judged by a lower standard of proof than criminal cases, which means the evidence required to hold an institution accountable is different. Many survivors who were told years ago that nothing could be done now have a viable path forward under the new law.

Sommers Schwartz is a multi-state law firm with attorneys who represent sexual abuse and sexual assault survivors in Rhode Island. The firm handles these cases with compassion and without judgment. You will never be pressured, and your privacy will be protected throughout the process. Rhode Island courts allow survivors to file anonymously in certain circumstances, which means coming forward does not have to mean going public.

What happened to you was not your fault. The abuse was a crime, and the Diocese’s failure to stop it was a betrayal of trust. You deserve answers, and you deserve to be heard. Reaching out to a sexual assault lawyer at Sommers Schwartz is a confidential first step. There is no cost to speak with our team, and we work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. Contact Sommers Schwartz today to discuss what your options are under Rhode Island’s new law before the revival window closes on June 30, 2028.

FAQs About Father Timothy Gorton and Rhode Island Clergy Abuse Claims

Father Gorton died in 2021. Can I still file a claim?

Yes. 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, not just against the individual abuser. Even though Father Gorton is deceased, the Diocese of Providence may still face legal liability for its role in transferring him and failing to act on abuse allegations. The revival window is open from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2028, and claims must be filed before that window closes.

What does it mean that Father Gorton is on the Diocese’s Credibly Accused List?

The Diocese of Providence’s Credibly Accused List identifies priests against whom the Diocese has determined there are credible allegations of sexual abuse of minors. Being on this list means the Diocese’s own review process found the allegations worthy of credibility. Father Gorton was placed on that list, his faculties were revoked, and he was suspended from active ministry in May 2012. This designation does not constitute a criminal conviction, but it is a significant finding that can be relevant to a civil claim.

What if I never reported the abuse to police or the Diocese?

You are not required to have made a prior report to law enforcement or the Diocese to pursue a civil claim. Many survivors never reported their abuse, for many understandable reasons, including fear, shame, and distrust of institutions. None of that disqualifies you from seeking justice now. A civil lawsuit is based on your experience and the evidence available, not on whether a prior complaint was filed. Speaking with an attorney at Sommers Schwartz can help you understand what your case might look like based on your specific circumstances.

How do I know if my claim falls within the new two-year revival window?

The revival window created by H-7200A/S-2616A applies to claims against institutions and supervisors accused of enabling or covering up child sexual abuse, where the statute of limitations had previously expired. If you were abused as a child in Rhode Island, including by a Diocese of Providence priest, and you previously believed your claim was too old to pursue, the new law may have changed that. The window runs from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028. An attorney at Sommers Schwartz can review the facts of your situation and tell you whether your claim qualifies.

Will filing a lawsuit mean my name becomes public?

Not necessarily. Rhode Island courts allow survivors to file civil lawsuits anonymously in certain circumstances, using designations such as Jane Doe or John Doe. This option exists specifically to protect the privacy of abuse survivors who want to pursue justice without public identification. The attorneys at Sommers Schwartz can explain how anonymous filing works in Rhode Island and whether it may be available in your case, so you can make an informed decision about moving forward.

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 Ferry
• Father Fitzgerald
• Father Flanagan
• Father Gagnon
• Father Gillooly
• 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