Father Alfred Lonardo served as a Roman Catholic priest in the Diocese of Providence for more than four decades. He is now named on the Rhode Island Attorney General’s list of credibly accused clergy, which means the Attorney General determined there is a reasonable basis to believe the alleged misconduct more likely than not occurred. If you or someone you love was harmed by Father Lonardo, you are not alone, and what happened to you was not your fault. Rhode Island’s new law has opened a real path to justice, and a sexual assault lawyer at Sommers Schwartz can help you understand what your options are right now.

Table of Contents

• Who Was Father Alfred Lonardo and Where Did He Serve?
• The Abuse Allegations Against Father Alfred Lonardo
• How the Diocese of Providence Handled Clergy Abuse Allegations
• Rhode Island’s New Child Sexual Abuse Law and What It Means for Lonardo Survivors
• Your Legal Rights as a Survivor of Father Lonardo’s Alleged Abuse
• FAQs About Father Alfred Lonardo and Rhode Island Clergy Abuse Claims

Who Was Father Alfred Lonardo and Where Did He Serve?

Father Alfred Lonardo was born on February 4, 1937, and ordained as a Catholic priest on June 8, 1963. He served in the Diocese of Providence until his retirement on February 4, 2007, and died on July 9, 2022. His assignment history spans multiple parishes across Rhode Island, giving him access to parishioners and children across several communities over many decades.

According to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s report on child sexual abuse in the Diocese of Providence, Lonardo’s documented assignment history includes: St. Francis Church in Wakefield (1963), St. Teresa of Avila Church in Providence (1963 to 1973), St. Mary Church in Cranston (1973 to 1975), the Adult Correctional Institutions in Cranston (1975 to 1977), Holy Cross Church in Providence (1977 to 1986), and St. Mary Church in Cranston again from 1986 to 2002. He also took a sabbatical at the North American College in Rome in 2002 and served at St. Augustine Church in Providence in 2003.

Lonardo resigned from St. Mary’s in 2002, after co-accused Father Daniel Azzarone’s indictment, and went to study in Rome, but was back by the start of 2003 after alleged sexual misconduct in Rome involving an adult male student. That pattern, leaving one assignment under a cloud and returning to ministry, is exactly what the Attorney General’s investigation found happening across the Diocese for decades.

The sheer number of assignments, and the communities those assignments touched, means that survivors could have encountered Father Lonardo at any of several parishes across Cranston, Providence, and Wakefield. If you worshipped at, or were connected to, any of those parishes during his tenure, your experience matters and deserves to be heard.

The Abuse Allegations Against Father Alfred Lonardo

Father Lonardo appears in the Rhode Island Attorney General’s report as a credibly accused member of the Diocese of Providence clergy. Appendix A of the report contains summaries of 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, including records voluntarily produced by the Diocese, law enforcement records, records of criminal and civil proceedings, victim and witness interviews, and publicly available information.

In 2022, an alleged victim told state police and the attorney general’s office about being sexually abused between 1994 and 1996 by Lonardo and Daniel Azzarone, who is also on the credibly accused list. Azzarone pleaded nolo contendere to two counts of first-degree sexual assault. A nolo contendere plea, sometimes called a “no contest” plea, means the defendant does not admit guilt but accepts the punishment as if convicted.

The reported abuse occurred during the years when Lonardo was assigned to St. Mary Church in Cranston, one of the parishes where he spent the longest stretch of his ministry. That parish served a close-knit Catholic community, and the trust that community placed in its priests made the alleged abuse a profound betrayal.

If the abuse you experienced happened at St. Mary Church in Cranston, or at any other location where Lonardo served, that report is a direct acknowledgment that your experience was not unique and was not your fault. Speaking with a sexual abuse lawyer who handles Diocese of Providence cases can help you understand what legal options are available to you today.

How the Diocese of Providence Handled Clergy Abuse Allegations

Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Neronha’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. That pattern is documented throughout the Attorney General’s 2026 report and helps explain why so many survivors stayed silent for so long.

The report identified 75 clergy members who sexually abused more than 300 children since 1950. Father Lonardo is one of those 75. The Diocese’s own list of credibly accused clergy, first released in 2019, did not initially include Lonardo’s name. The Attorney General’s investigation expanded that list significantly.

The Rhode Island Attorney General’s report on child sexual abuse in the Diocese of Providence documents how, in case after case, diocesan officials transferred accused priests rather than removing them, used vague language in internal records to obscure the nature of allegations, and failed to report abuse to civil authorities. This institutional behavior kept survivors isolated. Many believed they were the only one. Many blamed themselves. Neither of those things was true.

The Diocese’s pattern of moving priests from assignment to assignment, including Lonardo’s multiple postings across Cranston and Providence, meant that the pool of potential victims grew with each transfer. If you were harmed and stayed silent because you feared no one would believe you, the Attorney General’s report stands as powerful evidence that the institution itself created the conditions that made silence feel like the only option.

Rhode Island’s New Child Sexual Abuse Law and What It Means for Lonardo 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 took effect on July 1, 2026. This law, known as H-7200A/S-2616A, is a direct response to the Attorney General’s findings about the Diocese of Providence.

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 Lonardo’s alleged abuse, this is significant. The reported abuse from 1994 to 1996 would ordinarily have been time-barred long ago under prior Rhode Island law.

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 2026 law directly addresses that gap. It specifically creates a path for survivors to bring claims against institutions and supervisors accused of enabling or covering up abuse. That means the Diocese of Providence itself, and any supervisors who knew about Lonardo’s conduct and failed to act, can now be named as defendants during this window.

This window is temporary. All time-barred claims must be filed by June 30, 2028, or they may be forever barred. If you believe you have a claim connected to Father Lonardo or any other credibly accused priest in the Diocese of Providence, the time to act is now, not later.

Your Legal Rights as a Survivor of Father Lonardo’s Alleged Abuse

Rhode Island law recognizes that survivors of childhood sexual abuse often take years, or even decades, to come forward. The trauma of abuse, especially abuse committed by a trusted religious authority figure, can make disclosure feel impossible. The law now accounts for that reality in two important ways.

First, the 2026 law amends the statute of limitations going forward, giving survivors more time to file civil claims after they reach adulthood or after they connect their injuries to the abuse they experienced. Survivors now have 35 years from the date of the abuse, or 7 years from the time they first connected their injury to the abuse, whichever is later, and the clock does not start running until a survivor turns 18.

Second, the two-year revival window reopens claims that had already expired. This applies to claims against institutions and supervisors accused of enabling or covering up abuse, which is exactly the type of claim that survivors of Diocese of Providence clergy abuse may now bring against the Diocese itself.

A civil claim is separate from a criminal case. You do not need a criminal conviction, a police report, or any prior legal action to pursue a civil lawsuit. Civil cases use a lower standard of proof than criminal cases. You also have the right to file anonymously in Rhode Island, using a Jane Doe or John Doe designation, which protects your identity throughout the legal process.

Working with a knowledgeable sexual assault attorney who understands both the new law and the Diocese of Providence’s history of institutional abuse can make a real difference in the outcome of your case. At Sommers Schwartz, we represent survivors across Rhode Island with the seriousness and compassion your situation deserves. Reach out to us today for a free, confidential consultation. You do not have to navigate this alone.

FAQs About Father Alfred Lonardo and Rhode Island Clergy Abuse Claims

Is Father Alfred Lonardo on the Rhode Island Attorney General’s credibly accused clergy list?

Yes. Father Alfred Lonardo appears in Appendix A of the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 report on child sexual abuse in the Diocese of Providence. The Attorney General’s office determined there is a reasonable basis to believe the alleged misconduct more likely than not occurred, based on law enforcement records, victim interviews, and other evidence gathered during the investigation.

Can I still file a lawsuit if the abuse happened in the 1990s?

Yes, you may be able to file a lawsuit under Rhode Island’s new child sexual abuse law (H-7200A/S-2616A), signed by Governor Dan McKee on June 11, 2026, and effective July 1, 2026. The law creates a two-year revival window, running from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2028, during which survivors can bring civil claims that were previously barred by the statute of limitations. Claims connected to abuse in the 1990s, including the reported abuse by Father Lonardo between 1994 and 1996, fall within the scope of this window.

Can I sue the Diocese of Providence, not just Father Lonardo?

Yes. The 2026 revival window specifically allows survivors to bring claims against institutions and supervisors accused of enabling or covering up sexual abuse. The Rhode Island Attorney General’s report documented a pattern of institutional concealment within the Diocese of Providence. That means the Diocese itself can be named as a defendant in a civil lawsuit during the two-year window, in addition to any individual perpetrators.

Do I have to use my real name if I file a lawsuit?

No. Rhode Island courts allow survivors of sexual abuse to file civil lawsuits anonymously using a Jane Doe or John Doe designation. This protects your identity from public disclosure throughout the legal process. Many survivors choose this option because it allows them to seek justice without exposing their personal information. Your attorney can advise you on how to file anonymously and what protections apply in your specific case.

What should I do if I was abused by Father Lonardo or another Diocese of Providence priest?

The most important first step is to speak with an attorney who handles Rhode Island clergy abuse cases before the June 30, 2028 deadline. You do not need a police report or prior legal action to consult with a lawyer. A consultation is confidential and free at Sommers Schwartz. Our attorneys can review the facts of your situation, explain how the new law applies to your claim, and help you decide whether filing a civil lawsuit is right for you. What happened to you was not your fault, and you deserve to have someone in your corner.

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 Gorton
• Father Guertin
• Father Holden
• Father James Jackson
• Father Edward Kelley
• Father Lacasse
• Father LaMountain
• Father Leboeuf
• Father Paul Henry Leech
• Father Lepire
• 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