Father Barry Meehan served as a Catholic priest in the Diocese of Providence for more than three decades. He was ordained on June 10, 1978, and worked at parishes across Rhode Island until the Diocese suspended him in January 2013. The Rhode Island Attorney General’s March 2026 report on clergy abuse placed him among 75 priests with credible allegations of child sexual abuse. If you were abused by Father Meehan, or by any priest in the Diocese of Providence, you are not alone, and what happened to you was not your fault. A sexual assault lawyer at Sommers Schwartz can help you understand your rights under Rhode Island law and whether you may have a path to civil justice.

Table of Contents

• Who Was Father Barry Meehan and Where Did He Serve?
• What the Diocese of Providence Knew About Father Meehan, and When
• The Diocese’s Institutional Failures and the Cover-Up the Report Exposed
• Rhode Island’s New Child Sexual Abuse Law and What It Means for Father Meehan Survivors
• Your Legal Rights as a Survivor: Civil Claims Against the Diocese of Providence
• How Sommers Schwartz Can Help Father Meehan Survivors
• FAQs About Father Meehan and Rhode Island Clergy Abuse Claims

Who Was Father Barry Meehan and Where Did He Serve?

Father Barry Meehan was born on July 21, 1949, and ordained on June 10, 1978. His assignment history placed him in contact with children and young people across multiple Rhode Island communities for more than thirty years.

According to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Credibly Accused Clergy list, Meehan’s assignments included SS. Peter and Paul Church in West Warwick (1978 to 1980), St. Mary Church in Cranston (1980 to 1991), St. Augustine Church in Providence (1991 to 1996), St. John the Baptist Church in West Warwick (1996 to 2002), St. James Church in West Warwick (2000 to 2002), and St. Timothy Church in Warwick (2002 to 2013).

The allegations against Father Meehan span his time at several of these assignments. According to the Attorney General’s report on child sexual abuse in the Diocese of Providence, documents reveal that he reportedly abused at least three boys in the 1980s and 2000s. The abuse is alleged to have occurred over a period that touched multiple parishes and multiple victims.

Father Meehan was suspended from ministry on January 8, 2013. A grand jury indicted him in November 2014 on five counts of first-degree sexual assault under Rhode Island General Laws. He was formally dismissed from the clerical state on May 7, 2015. He died on December 8, 2016, less than a month before his criminal trial was scheduled to begin. The Diocese of Providence included him on its Credibly Accused List in 2019.

If any of these parishes or communities are familiar to you, and something happened to you there, please know that you have the right to speak with an attorney. The passage of time does not diminish what you experienced.

What the Diocese of Providence Knew About Father Meehan, and When

The Diocese of Providence received warning signs about Father Barry Meehan years before it took meaningful action. The Rhode Island Attorney General’s report on child sexual abuse in the Diocese documents a pattern of ignored complaints, incomplete investigations, and a failure to protect children.

The Diocese was first alerted to concerns about Father Meehan’s conduct in 1998, when a parishioner of St. John the Baptist Church in West Warwick reported to the Diocese’s Director of Compliance that she suspected Meehan was having an inappropriate relationship with a 15-year-old boy. That boy was reportedly at the parish rectory every day, frequently near the rectory bedrooms. The parishioner provided the names of three boys who were often there. There is no indication that the Director, or anyone else, interviewed those boys or their families, or alerted law enforcement.

In 2002, a nun from St. Timothy Parish reported Meehan’s close relationships with young boys in the rectory. She described classic grooming behavior, including that Meehan had provided some boys with credit cards, lent one a car, and took others to dinner. The Diocese dismissed these warning signs. According to the Attorney General’s report, then-Chancellor John Darcy wrote that the nun made no suggestions of physical or sexual improprieties. There is no record that Darcy spoke with any of the boys or their families.

In 2006, a man contacted the Diocese and reported that Meehan had sexually abused him in the 1980s, when he was 15 years old. After Meehan denied the allegations in an interview, the Diocese’s Review Board voted unanimously that the allegation was unsubstantiated. Between 2010 and 2011, the Diocese received three anonymous complaints urging Bishop Tobin to remove Meehan from St. Timothy’s Church in Warwick, warning of a potential scandal. There is no record that the Diocese investigated those complaints either.

The Diocese did not suspend Meehan or notify State Police about multiple victims until December 2012 and into 2013, when additional direct complaints forced the issue. That delay, documented in the Attorney General’s report, is central to why Rhode Island’s new civil law matters so much for survivors.

The Diocese’s Institutional Failures and the Cover-Up the Report Exposed

The Rhode Island Attorney General’s report does not just document what Father Meehan allegedly did. It documents what the Diocese of Providence chose not to do, year after year, when it had reason to act.

When Bishop Tobin referred the 2012 complaints against Father Meehan to the Vatican in mid-2013, he omitted from his referral any mention of the several other complaints the Diocese had received by that time, including those from 2006 and 1998. In his written communication to the Vatican, Bishop Tobin stated that he did not believe Father Meehan to be a danger to young people, despite the accumulation of complaints the Diocese had received over more than a decade.

In March 2014, the Diocese advised Meehan that the Vatican had recommended he apply for laicization. According to the Attorney General’s report, Vicar General Albert Kenney explained to Meehan that a formal penal process could open the floodgates for victim-rights groups and generate overwhelming negative publicity. This framing, focused on institutional reputation rather than survivor safety, reflects the pattern the Attorney General’s report described throughout its findings.

After Meehan’s criminal indictment, one of the complainants wrote to Vicar General Kenney to report that the Holy Name Parish bulletin had published Mass intentions for Meehan three times in the past two years. The complainant noted that, to his knowledge, there had been more announced Masses for Father Meehan than for all victims of priest sexual abuse in the diocese combined.

This is the institutional behavior that Rhode Island’s new child sexual abuse law, H-7200a/S-2616a, is designed to address. Survivors who were harmed by institutional cover-ups now have a legal path to hold those institutions accountable, not just the individual priests who committed the abuse.

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

On June 11, 2026, Governor Dan McKee signed legislation known as H-7200a/S-2616a into law. The law amends the statute of limitations for claims of sexual abuse of a child and creates a two-year window for survivors 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 direct response to years of advocacy by survivors who were told their time to seek justice had run out.

Why does this matter specifically for Father Meehan survivors? Because many of the alleged abuses occurred in the 1980s and 1990s. Under prior law, most of those claims were time-barred. 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 new 2026 law closes 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 of Father Meehan’s alleged abuse, this means the Diocese of Providence itself, and the supervisors who received complaints and failed to act, may now be named as defendants in a civil lawsuit.

For future claims, 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. If your claim falls within the revival window, time is a factor. The window closes on June 30, 2028, and claims not filed by that date may be permanently barred.

Your Legal Rights as a Survivor: Civil Claims Against the Diocese of Providence

A criminal conviction is not required to bring a civil lawsuit. Father Meehan died in December 2016 before his criminal trial could proceed. That does not prevent survivors from pursuing civil claims against the institutions that enabled or concealed his alleged conduct.

Rhode Island civil law allows survivors to seek compensation for the harm they suffered. Claims can be brought for childhood sexual abuse under Rhode Island General Laws, and under the new H-7200a/S-2616a framework, those claims can now reach the Diocese of Providence as an institution, as well as individual supervisors who received complaints and failed to act.

Civil claims are separate from criminal proceedings. In a civil case, you are not asking the state to punish someone. You are asking a court to recognize what was done to you and to hold the responsible parties financially accountable. The standard of proof in civil court is lower than in criminal court, which means that even in cases where criminal prosecution was never pursued, a civil claim can still succeed.

You also have the right to file anonymously. Rhode Island courts allow survivors to bring claims as Jane Doe or John Doe, which means your name does not have to appear in public court records. This is an important protection for survivors who are concerned about privacy.

Working with a skilled sexual abuse lawyer who understands Rhode Island’s evolving laws is the most effective way to understand what your specific situation allows. Sommers Schwartz represents survivors in Rhode Island and across the country, and our attorneys are ready to listen without judgment.

How Sommers Schwartz Can Help Father Meehan Survivors

Sommers Schwartz is a multi-state law firm with attorneys who represent survivors of sexual assault and abuse, including those harmed by clergy within the Diocese of Providence. We understand that coming forward is one of the hardest decisions a survivor can make. We also understand that the law has changed in your favor, and that this moment matters.

Our attorneys handle clergy sexual abuse claims with the seriousness and sensitivity they deserve. We know the Diocese of Providence’s history, including the documented pattern of institutional failure described in the Rhode Island Attorney General’s March 2026 report. We know how cover-ups work, and we know how to build civil cases that hold institutions accountable.

When you contact Sommers Schwartz, you speak with an attorney, not a case manager or intake specialist. We listen to what happened to you. We explain your legal options clearly and honestly. We do not pressure you into any decision. Everything you share with us is protected by attorney-client privilege.

Our firm works on a contingency fee basis in sexual abuse cases. That means you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. There is no financial barrier to getting legal advice about your rights.

The two-year revival window under H-7200a/S-2616a is open now, but it will not stay open forever. If you or someone you love was abused by Father Meehan, or by any priest in the Diocese of Providence, reaching out to a sexual assault attorney at Sommers Schwartz is a meaningful first step. You do not have to carry this alone. We are here to help you understand what justice can look like for you.

FAQs About Father Meehan and Rhode Island Clergy Abuse Claims

Father Meehan died in 2016. Can I still file a civil lawsuit related to his abuse?

Yes. The death of an alleged abuser does not automatically end your right to file a civil claim. Under Rhode Island’s new law, H-7200a/S-2616a, you may be able to bring a claim against the Diocese of Providence as an institution, or against supervisors who received complaints about Father Meehan and failed to act. The revival window is open from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2028. Speaking with an attorney as soon as possible gives you the best chance to evaluate your options before that window closes.

What does the two-year revival window actually cover?

The revival window created by H-7200a/S-2616a allows survivors to file civil lawsuits for childhood sexual abuse even if the statute of limitations on their claims had already expired. The window runs from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2028. It applies to claims against institutions and supervisors accused of enabling or covering up sexual abuse, meaning the Diocese of Providence and its leadership can be named as defendants, not just individual priests.

Do I need a criminal conviction to file a civil lawsuit?

No. A criminal conviction is not required to bring a civil claim. Civil and criminal cases operate under different legal standards. In a civil case, the burden of proof is lower than in a criminal trial. Father Meehan was indicted on five counts of first-degree sexual assault in 2014 but died before his trial concluded. That does not prevent survivors from pursuing civil claims against him through his estate, or against the institutions and supervisors who failed to protect children from him.

What if I am not sure whether what happened to me counts as sexual abuse under Rhode Island law?

You do not need to make that determination on your own. Rhode Island General Laws define sexual abuse broadly, and what may feel difficult to name or describe can still qualify as actionable conduct under the law. The right step is to speak with an attorney who handles these cases. At Sommers Schwartz, we will listen to your experience without judgment and give you an honest assessment of your legal options. There is no obligation when you reach out to us.

Will my name become public if I file a lawsuit?

Not necessarily. Rhode Island courts allow survivors to file lawsuits under a pseudonym, such as Jane Doe or John Doe. This means your legal name does not have to appear in public court filings. Protecting your privacy is something we take seriously at Sommers Schwartz, and we will walk you through exactly how anonymous filing works in Rhode Island before you make any decisions about moving forward with a claim.

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 Lonardo
• Father Philip Magaldi
• Father Manu
• Father Normand Marcantonio
• Father Joseph McCra
• Father McIntyre
• 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