Father Richard Meglio is one of the most documented cases of clergy sexual abuse in the Diocese of Providence’s history. He is named on the Diocese’s official List of Credibly Accused Clergy, he was suspended from ministry in 1988, and a civil lawsuit against the Diocese over his conduct resulted in a $500,000 settlement in 2003. If you were abused by Father Meglio, or by any priest who served in the same parishes where he worked, you are not alone, and what happened to you was not your fault. Rhode Island’s new child sexual abuse law creates a real opportunity for survivors to take legal action, even if they believe their time has passed.

Table of Contents

• Who Is Father Richard Meglio and What Did the Diocese Know?
• Father Meglio’s Full Assignment History and the Parishes He Served
• Rhode Island’s New Child Sexual Abuse Law Opens the Door for Survivors
• What the Diocese of Providence Knew and When It Knew It
• How Sommers Schwartz Can Help Survivors of Father Meglio’s Abuse
• FAQs About Father Meglio and Rhode Island Clergy Abuse Claims

Who Is Father Richard Meglio and What Did the Diocese Know?

Father Richard Meglio was ordained on February 12, 1972, and served in multiple parishes across Rhode Island over the following sixteen years. Before becoming an ordained priest, Meglio worked as a teacher and social arts coordinator at Roger Williams Junior High School in Providence from 1966 to 1968. His parish assignments took him through St. Bernard Church in North Kingstown, St. Mary Church in Cranston, St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church in Pawtucket, Our Lady of Grace Church in Johnston, Sacred Heart Church in West Warwick, and St. Mark Church in Cranston.

The Rhode Island Attorney General’s March 2026 report on child sexual abuse in the Diocese of Providence documents a particularly troubling pattern around Meglio’s time at Our Lady of Grace Church in Johnston. According to a civil complaint filed by a survivor, a 12-year-old boy was hospitalized at Butler Hospital for psychological distress in 1972, and his parents asked Father Meglio to provide care, comfort, and spiritual guidance to their son. The report states that Meglio regularly removed the boy from the hospital and brought him to Our Lady of Grace Church and its rectory, where he sexually abused him.

The report also reveals that another pastor at Our Lady of Grace had at least some awareness of Meglio’s misconduct but did not report it or take steps to stop it. Internal Diocese records show that as early as July 1979, Auxiliary Bishop Angell wrote to Bishop Gelineau about concerns from the pastor of Our Lady of Grace, who wanted Meglio reassigned. Despite those internal communications, the Diocese did not remove Meglio from ministry. He was simply transferred to Sacred Heart Church in West Warwick in 1980, a pattern the Attorney General’s report identifies as common across dozens of accused priests in the Diocese.

Richard Meglio served at St. Bernard Church in Wickford in 1971 and was removed from ministry on April 22, 1988. The Diocese ultimately settled the civil lawsuit brought by the survivor’s estate for $500,000 in 2003. The complainant had died in 1997 after years of struggling with mental health and substance abuse, which the Attorney General’s report connects directly to the abuse he suffered as a child.

Father Meglio’s Full Assignment History and the Parishes He Served

Understanding where Father Meglio served matters. Survivors who were abused in any of his parishes, or who had contact with him through parish programs or community roles, may have legal claims worth pursuing. His assignment history spans more than a decade and covers several Rhode Island communities.

Meglio began his priestly assignments in 1971 at St. Bernard Church in North Kingstown. He then moved to St. Mary Church in Cranston from 1971 to 1972, followed by St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church in Pawtucket from 1972 to 1973. From 1973 to 1980, he was assigned to Our Lady of Grace Church in Johnston, the parish where the documented abuse of the hospitalized boy occurred. He then served at Sacred Heart Church in West Warwick from 1980 to 1982, and at St. Mark Church in Cranston from 1983 until his suspension in 1988.

His connection to children extended beyond parish walls. Before ordination, he worked in a Providence public school in a role that gave him direct access to young people. That background, combined with his later access to vulnerable children in hospital settings, reflects the kind of institutional access that enabled abuse across multiple Diocese of Providence cases documented in the Attorney General’s report.

The Attorney General’s report identified 75 clergy members who sexually abused more than 300 children since 1950. Father Meglio is among those 75. If you attended any of the parishes where he served, or if you know someone who did, the information on this page may be relevant to you or to them.

Rhode Island’s New Child Sexual Abuse Law Opens the Door for Survivors

Many survivors of Father Meglio’s abuse, or the abuse of other priests in the Diocese of Providence, believed for years that their legal options had expired. Rhode Island’s new law changes that directly. 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 legislation, known as H-7200a/S-2616a, was signed by Governor Dan McKee on June 11, 2026. The legislation was sponsored by House Judiciary Committee Chairwoman Carol Hagan McEntee and Sen. Mark McKenney. The push for the law came directly from the Attorney General’s March 2026 report, which documented how the Diocese concealed abuse for decades and moved accused priests from parish to parish rather than removing them from ministry.

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 not a small change. For survivors who were told years ago that they had no legal options, this window reopens the courthouse door.

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 new law specifically targets institutions and organizations such as churches, schools, youth programs, healthcare facilities, and sports leagues, as well as supervisors. The Diocese of Providence, as an institution, falls squarely within the law’s reach.

What the Diocese of Providence Knew and When It Knew It

The Attorney General’s 2026 report makes clear that Meglio’s case was not an isolated failure. It was part of a documented institutional pattern. The Diocese received internal warnings about Meglio as early as 1979, yet he remained in ministry for nearly a decade more. When he was finally suspended in 1988, it came years after the abuse had already occurred and after the Diocese had moved him from parish to parish.

The 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 documents how this pattern repeated itself across multiple priests. Accused clergy were transferred rather than removed. Bishops communicated internally about abuse complaints while keeping that information from parishioners, parents, and law enforcement.

In Meglio’s case, the Attorney General’s report notes that a document in the Diocese’s own files appears to corroborate the survivor’s account that a priest at Our Lady of Grace had at least some suspicion of Meglio’s misconduct. That priest did not report what he knew. The Diocese settled the lawsuit brought by the survivor’s estate for $500,000 in 2003, without any public admission of wrongdoing.

This kind of institutional concealment is exactly what H-7200a/S-2616a was designed to address. The law targets institutions and supervisors, not just individual perpetrators. If the Diocese knew about Meglio’s conduct and failed to act, that institutional failure may form the basis of a civil claim under Rhode Island law. A sexual abuse lawyer with experience in Diocese of Providence cases can evaluate whether your specific circumstances support a claim against the institution itself.

How Sommers Schwartz Can Help Survivors of Father Meglio’s Abuse

Taking the first step toward legal action can feel overwhelming, especially when the abuse happened years or even decades ago. You may wonder whether anyone will believe you, whether records still exist, or whether it is too late. Those concerns are valid, and they are ones that the attorneys at Sommers Schwartz hear from survivors regularly. The answer, in most cases, is that it is not too late, and that evidence often exists in places survivors do not expect.

The Attorney General’s 2026 report, the Diocese’s own settlement history, and the official Credibly Accused Clergy list all document Father Meglio’s conduct and the Diocese’s response to it. These are public records that can support a civil claim. The $500,000 settlement the Diocese paid in 2003 over Meglio’s conduct is itself a matter of public record. Survivors do not need to prove their case alone. The attorneys at Sommers Schwartz build these cases using the institutional record, survivor testimony, and the full weight of Rhode Island law.

Rhode Island law also protects your privacy. Survivors in civil cases have the right to file anonymously as Jane Doe or John Doe in appropriate circumstances, which means you can pursue justice without your name becoming part of the public record. If you are a sexual assault lawyer referral source or a family member supporting a survivor, Sommers Schwartz welcomes those conversations as well.

The revival window created by H-7200a/S-2616a runs only through June 30, 2028. That deadline is real. Survivors who want to bring time-barred claims against the Diocese of Providence or other institutions must act before that date. Contacting a sexual assault attorney now gives you the time to understand your options, gather information, and make a fully informed decision about whether to file.

Sommers Schwartz represents survivors across Rhode Island and across multiple states. The firm’s attorneys approach every case with the understanding that survivors carry the weight of what happened to them for years before they are ready to come forward. There is no judgment here, only support and skilled legal representation. If you or someone you love was abused by Father Meglio or by any other priest in the Diocese of Providence, please reach out to Sommers Schwartz today for a confidential, no-obligation consultation.

FAQs About Father Meglio and Rhode Island Clergy Abuse Claims

Is Father Richard Meglio still in active ministry?

No. Father Richard Meglio was suspended from ministry on April 22, 1988, and has not served in an active priestly role since that time. He is included on the Diocese of Providence’s official List of Credibly Accused Clergy, which was first published in July 2019 and has been updated since. The Diocese states that none of the individuals on that list are permitted to serve in ministry or function as a priest.

Can I still file a lawsuit if the abuse happened decades ago?

Yes, in many cases you can. 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 that runs through June 30, 2028. During this period, survivors can file civil claims against institutions and supervisors, such as the Diocese of Providence, even if the statute of limitations on those claims had previously expired. Speaking with an attorney as soon as possible gives you the best chance to evaluate your options before that window closes.

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

You do not need to make that determination on your own. Any unwanted sexual contact, sexual act, or sexual conduct directed at you by a priest or other authority figure when you were a child may qualify as sexual abuse under Rhode Island law. The attorneys at Sommers Schwartz can listen to your experience in a confidential setting and help you understand whether you have a legal claim. There is no obligation to file a lawsuit simply by having that conversation, and nothing about reaching out is a commitment to any particular course of action.

Can I file a claim against the Diocese of Providence, not just against Father Meglio personally?

Yes. Rhode Island’s H-7200a/S-2616a specifically targets institutions and supervisors accused of enabling or covering up sexual abuse. The Attorney General’s 2026 report documented that the Diocese of Providence had internal knowledge of concerns about Father Meglio as early as 1979 and did not remove him from ministry until 1988. If the Diocese knew about the risk he posed and failed to act, that institutional failure may support a civil claim against the Diocese directly, separate from any claim against Meglio as an individual.

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

Not necessarily. Rhode Island courts allow survivors to file civil lawsuits anonymously as Jane Doe or John Doe in appropriate circumstances. This means your name does not have to appear in public court records. Whether anonymous filing is available in your specific case depends on the facts and procedural posture of your claim. An attorney can advise you on how to protect your privacy while still pursuing your legal rights. Sommers Schwartz handles these situations with care and will explain all available options to you during your initial consultation.

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 Meehan
• 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