Father Joseph Abruzzese was a Catholic priest in the Diocese of Providence who pleaded no contest in 1994 to second-degree sexual assault of a teenage boy. His case is not a distant allegation or an unresolved rumor. It is a matter of criminal record, confirmed by the Rhode Island Attorney General’s March 2026 investigation, and a story that reveals how institutional silence can cause as much harm as the abuse itself. If you or someone you love was harmed by Father Abruzzese, you need to know that what happened was not your fault, your experience matters, and the law may now give you a path to justice that did not exist before.

Table of Contents

• Who Is Father Joseph Abruzzese and What Did He Do?
• How the Diocese of Providence Responded to Father Abruzzese’s Conviction
• The Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 Report and What It Means for Survivors
• Rhode Island’s New Child Sexual Abuse Law (H-7200A/S-2616A) and the Revival Window
• Your Legal Rights as a Survivor and How Sommers Schwartz Can Help
• FAQs About Father John Abruzzese and Rhode Island Clergy Abuse Claims

Who Is Father Joseph Abruzzese and What Did He Do?

Father Joseph Abruzzese was ordained as a Diocese of Providence priest on November 17, 1990. His assignments were brief. He served at Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in North Providence, St. Francis de Sales Church in North Kingstown, and St. Anthony Church in North Providence before being placed on leave in November 1993.

Abruzzese pleaded no contest in 1994 to second-degree sexual assault for grabbing and fondling a 16-year-old boy in a local park. He was sentenced to five years’ probation and counseling. A nolo contendere plea, which is Latin for “no contest,” means the defendant does not admit guilt but accepts the punishment. In Rhode Island courts, it carries the same legal weight as a guilty plea for sentencing purposes.

Despite the criminal conviction, the Diocese allowed Abruzzese to remain a priest. According to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s report on child sexual abuse in the Diocese of Providence, Bishop Gelineau allowed him to reside in a rectory with church support even after the plea. The Diocese’s primary concern, as documented in internal correspondence, was avoiding public scandal rather than protecting potential victims.

Despite his plea, Abruzzese maintained that he was innocent, and he was allowed to reside at a church property. Bishop Tobin did not return Abruzzese to ministry, citing his concern that victims’ advocacy groups would immediately respond in a damaging manner. That framing, focused on reputation rather than accountability, is precisely what survivors and their families deserve to understand.

How the Diocese of Providence Responded to Father Abruzzese’s Conviction

The Diocese of Providence’s internal response to Father Abruzzese’s conviction followed a pattern documented throughout the Rhode Island Attorney General’s March 2026 report: prioritizing institutional reputation over transparency and victim safety. This response unfolded across multiple bishops and spanned nearly two decades.

After Abruzzese’s 1994 plea, Bishop Louis Gelineau permitted him to live in a rectory with church support. The need to avoid “scandal” was a driving factor in that decision. In November 2002, Bishop Robert Mulvee wrote to the Vatican to begin a canonical inquiry into the 1994 incident. His letter made clear that Abruzzese’s priestly faculties would remain restricted due to the public nature of the case as reported in media outlets, not because of a concern for the victim or potential future victims.

Bishop Thomas Tobin, who succeeded Mulvee, faced Abruzzese’s repeated requests to be restored to active ministry. In a July 13, 2012, letter to the Vatican, Bishop Tobin wrote that the “very probable reaction of both the media and victims’ advocacy groups” made reinstatement impossible, and that “the resulting scandal could be disastrous.” Tobin’s concern was damage control, not child safety.

Abruzzese was included on the Diocese’s July 1, 2019, list of credibly accused clergy, and he was also included in the March 4, 2026, Rhode Island Attorney General’s Report. His case is one of many that illustrate how the Diocese placed its own interests above the welfare of children in its care. Survivors who experienced abuse connected to this institutional failure deserve to have that context acknowledged and, where possible, addressed through legal action.

The Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 Report and What It Means for Survivors

The push for Rhode Island’s new child sexual abuse law was closely tied to a 284-page report released in March 2026 by Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha. The report documented more than 300 survivors of abuse within the Diocese of Providence and identified 75 clergy members with credible allegations of sexual misconduct dating back to 1950. It also outlined how the Diocese allegedly concealed that abuse for decades.

The Attorney General determined that 72 clergy had been credibly accused of child sexual misconduct in the Diocese of Providence, based on the totality of information in the office’s possession. Father Abruzzese is among those named. In deciding whether to include an accused individual, 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 report did not exist in isolation. It followed years of advocacy by survivors and watchdog organizations, and it directly prompted the Rhode Island General Assembly to act. Attorney General Neronha publicly supported the legislation, urging lawmakers to pass the bill and give survivors a meaningful window to seek justice. For anyone harmed by a Diocese of Providence priest, including Father Abruzzese, the report is both a validation of your experience and a foundation for potential civil claims. A sexual assault attorney familiar with the Attorney General’s findings can help you understand what this report means specifically for your situation.

Rhode Island’s New Child Sexual Abuse Law (H-7200A/S-2616A) and the Revival Window

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. 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 significant shift. Before this law, many survivors who waited to come forward, for any reason, lost their legal right to sue entirely.

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, H-7200A/S-2616A, directly addresses that gap. The new law specifically targets institutions and organizations such as churches, schools, youth programs, healthcare facilities, and sports leagues, as well as supervisors.

For survivors whose claims relate to Father Abruzzese or the Diocese of Providence’s handling of his case, this window is critical. All time-barred claims must be filed by June 30, 2028, or they may be forever barred. The clock is running. Speaking with a sexual abuse lawyer now gives you the best chance to understand your rights before that deadline arrives. You do not have to have everything figured out before you make that call. The attorneys at Sommers Schwartz will listen and help you understand your options without pressure.

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

If you were abused by Father Abruzzese, or by any other priest in the Diocese of Providence, you have rights under Rhode Island law. What happened to you was not your fault. Abuse by a trusted religious figure is a profound violation, and the shame and confusion that survivors often feel belong entirely to the people who caused the harm, not to those who suffered it.

Civil claims against the Diocese of Providence and its supervisors are now possible under the revival window created by H-7200A/S-2616A. A civil lawsuit is separate from any criminal proceeding. It allows survivors to seek accountability and compensation from the institutions that failed to protect them. The Diocese’s documented pattern of prioritizing reputation over child safety, as laid out in the Attorney General’s 2026 report, is directly relevant to claims of institutional enabling and cover-up.

Sommers Schwartz represents survivors of clergy sexual abuse across Rhode Island and multiple states. Our attorneys understand the trauma involved in coming forward, and we approach every case with compassion and respect for your experience. We know that reaching out is not easy. We also know that for many survivors, taking that step is a meaningful part of reclaiming control over their own story. Whether your abuse happened at St. Anthony Church in North Providence, St. Francis de Sales Church in North Kingstown, or anywhere else connected to Father Abruzzese’s assignments, we want to hear from you.

If you are considering a claim and want to understand what the revival window means for your specific situation, a sexual assault lawyer at Sommers Schwartz is ready to speak with you in confidence. There is no obligation, and your privacy is protected throughout the process.

FAQs About Father John Abruzzese and Rhode Island Clergy Abuse Claims

Was Father Joseph Abruzzese criminally convicted of sexual assault?

Yes. Father Joseph Abruzzese pleaded no contest in 1994 to second-degree sexual assault involving a 16-year-old boy in Rhode Island. He was sentenced to five years’ probation and counseling. A no-contest plea carries the same legal effect as a guilty plea for sentencing purposes under Rhode Island law. He was subsequently suspended from ministry and placed on the Diocese of Providence’s credibly accused clergy list in July 2019. He is also named in the Rhode Island Attorney General’s March 2026 report on clergy abuse in the Diocese of Providence.

Can I still file a civil lawsuit related to Father Abruzzese even if the abuse happened decades ago?

Possibly, yes. 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 two-year revival window for survivors to bring otherwise time-barred civil claims against institutions and supervisors accused of enabling or covering up sexual abuse. That window runs from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028. If your claim was previously blocked by the statute of limitations, this window may reopen the courthouse doors for you. Speaking with an attorney as soon as possible gives you the most time to prepare your case before the window closes.

Does the new Rhode Island law allow me to sue the Diocese of Providence, not just the priest?

Yes. The 2023 Rhode Island Supreme Court ruling had limited the prior 2019 law to claims against individual perpetrators only. The new law, H-7200A/S-2616A, was specifically designed to address that gap. It creates a two-year window for survivors to bring claims against institutions and supervisors accused of enabling or covering up sexual abuse. This means the Diocese of Providence, as an institution, can now be named in civil claims brought during the revival window for its role in concealing or failing to address abuse.

What if I am not sure whether what happened to me qualifies as sexual abuse?

You do not need to have a legal definition in mind before you reach out to an attorney. Sexual abuse takes many forms, and the shame or uncertainty you may feel is a common response to trauma, not a reflection of whether your experience was real or serious. Rhode Island law defines sexual assault broadly, and second-degree sexual assault, the charge to which Abruzzese pleaded no contest, covers unwanted sexual contact that does not require force. If a priest or other trusted figure touched you in a sexual way without your consent, especially when you were a minor, that experience deserves to be heard. Contact Sommers Schwartz for a confidential conversation with no obligation.

How does Sommers Schwartz handle cases involving survivors of clergy abuse?

Sommers Schwartz approaches every clergy abuse case with a trauma-informed perspective. We understand that survivors often carry this harm for years or decades before feeling ready to come forward, and we never rush or pressure clients. Our attorneys represent survivors across Rhode Island and multiple states, and we have deep knowledge of the Diocese of Providence’s documented history of abuse and institutional cover-up. We handle these cases on a contingency basis, which means you pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you. Your first conversation with us is confidential, and your identity is protected throughout the legal process.

More Resources About Clergy Abuse

• Diocese of Providence Clergy Abuse
• 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 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