Father Edmond Micarelli is one of the most extensively documented abusers named in the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 report on child sexual abuse within the Diocese of Providence. If you or someone you love was abused by Father Micarelli, or by another priest who operated in the same institutional environment, you are not alone. What happened to you was not your fault. And because of a new Rhode Island law signed in 2026, you may now have a legal path forward that did not exist before. Connecting with a sexual assault lawyer who understands the full scope of clergy abuse in Rhode Island is one of the most important steps a survivor can take right now.

Table of Contents

• Who Is Father Edmond Micarelli and What Did the Attorney General’s Report Find?
• How the Diocese of Providence Responded to Complaints Against Father Micarelli
• Rhode Island’s New Child Sexual Abuse Law and What It Means for Micarelli Survivors
• Why Institutional Accountability Matters in the Micarelli Case
• How Sommers Schwartz Can Help Survivors of Father Micarelli’s Abuse
• FAQs About Father Micarelli and Rhode Island Clergy Abuse Claims

Who Is Father Edmond Micarelli and What Did the Attorney General’s Report Find?

Father Edmond Micarelli served as a priest in the Diocese of Providence from the late 1950s through 1989. His assignments included Camp Yawgoog in Hopkinton, the Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul in Providence, St. Ann Church in Cranston, Christ the King Church in South Kingstown, and the Newman Center at the University of Rhode Island, among others. He also served in the Diocesan Chaplaincy for Scouting from 1967 to 1973.

According to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 report, Edmond Micarelli was identified as having 16 victims. He allegedly abused children while serving as a Boy Scouts chaplain at Camp Yawgoog in Narragansett. The report states that Micarelli reportedly bragged that he “had sex with every kid he knew.” In 1971, he allegedly picked up a 12-year-old hitchhiker, brought him to the camp, gave him beer, and raped him while he was incapacitated.

The Attorney General’s report describes in detail how Micarelli used his position of trust to access children. According to notes from a 1990 meeting between Auxiliary Bishop Angell, Monsignor Salvatore Matano, and one of Micarelli’s victims, the priest befriended a boy whose father had died and who worked at Camp Yawgoog around 1963 and 1964. The boy described Micarelli as being like a father and a big brother. According to the complainant, Father Micarelli later sodomized him in his sleep and made advances toward him. The report also documents a pattern in which the priest would “befriend troubled kids,” become friendly with their families, and then abuse the children in their own homes.

Micarelli’s abuse was reported as early as 1983, yet he was allowed to remain in ministry until he retired and relocated to Florida in 1989. The Diocese did not report any of the alleged abuse to law enforcement until 2008, but by then, statute of limitations issues prevented prosecution. Edmund Micarelli, also known as Edmond Micarelli, was the subject of lawsuits for alleged sexual abuse and was also listed in the ineligible volunteers files for the Boy Scouts of America.

How the Diocese of Providence Responded to Complaints Against Father Micarelli

The Diocese of Providence’s handling of Father Micarelli’s case reflects a broader pattern documented throughout the Attorney General’s 2026 report. Rather than removing him from ministry when abuse was first reported, the Diocese allowed him to continue serving in roles that gave him direct access to children.

In 2003, Father Micarelli submitted a request for voluntary laicization to the Vatican, which was supported by Bishop Mulvee. The Vatican denied the request, citing Micarelli’s age and the fact that he was living quietly in Florida and celebrating Mass in private. The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith asked the Bishop to restrict his ministry to private Mass, but Micarelli was allowed to live out his days as a priest. The Diocese did not add Micarelli to its List of Credibly Accused Clergy until 2019.

The Attorney General’s report accused the Diocese 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 identified 75 clergy members who sexually abused more than 300 children since 1950. Accused priests were repeatedly returned to ministry. Micarelli’s case is a direct example of that pattern. Survivors who lived through this institutional failure deserve to have that truth recognized, and the law now gives them a meaningful way to pursue accountability.

The report also documented how Micarelli’s access to children was not limited to Camp Yawgoog. He served as the Scout Chaplain for the Diocese, a role that gave him institutional cover and regular contact with boys in multiple settings. Records show that another credibly accused priest, Father Edward Kelley, wrote to the Personnel Board in 1973 requesting an assistant role to the Scout Chaplain, who at that time was Father Micarelli, illustrating how the scouting program served as a shared access point for multiple abusers within the Diocese.

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

Rhode Island’s new law (H-7200a/S-2616a) 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 law took effect on July 1, 2026.

The new law establishes a two-year civil “revival window” that runs 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 significant for Micarelli survivors, many of whom were abused in the 1960s and 1970s and had no legal recourse under the old deadlines.

In 2023, the Rhode Island Supreme Court ruled that a 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 targets institutions and organizations such as churches, schools, youth programs, healthcare facilities, and sports leagues, as well as supervisors. For survivors of Father Micarelli’s abuse, this means a claim against the Diocese of Providence, which had knowledge of the abuse and failed to act, may now be possible within the revival window.

For future claims, the law requires survivors to file 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. If you were abused and have never filed a claim, speaking with a sexual abuse lawyer now is the most important step you can take before the window closes on June 30, 2028.

Why Institutional Accountability Matters in the Micarelli Case

Father Micarelli did not operate in isolation. The Rhode Island Attorney General’s report makes clear that the Diocese of Providence had knowledge of abuse complaints and chose, repeatedly, to protect the institution rather than the children in its care. That institutional failure is now at the center of what survivors can pursue under Rhode Island’s new law.

The accused priests took advantage of their positions of trust and authority as Catholic clergy for their own sexual gratification. They betrayed the faith placed in them by parishioners and parents who unwittingly gave them access to their children. They targeted children who were especially vulnerable to isolation and manipulation, including children from troubled homes and children who served as altar boys or attended Catholic schools or youth programs.

Micarelli’s assignment history shows that the Diocese placed him in role after role that gave him unsupervised access to minors. He served at Camp Yawgoog for over a decade, held the Diocesan Chaplaincy for Scouting, and later served at St. Alexander Church in Warren from 1973 to 1988. At no point, despite documented complaints, did the Diocese report his conduct to law enforcement. The Diocese did not report any of the alleged abuse to law enforcement until 2008, but by then, statute of limitations issues prevented prosecution.

Institutional accountability is not just about justice for one survivor. It is about changing the conditions that allowed abuse to happen across generations. When institutions face civil liability, they have a reason to act differently. That is precisely what Rhode Island’s new law is designed to accomplish, and it is why filing a claim against the Diocese, not just against an individual priest, can matter so much. Survivors of abuse connected to the Diocese of Providence’s broader sexual assault attorney network understand this dynamic and can help you build a case that reflects the full scope of what happened.

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

Sommers Schwartz represents survivors of sexual abuse and sexual assault in Rhode Island and across the country. The attorneys at Sommers Schwartz understand the courage it takes to come forward, and they approach every case with the compassion and seriousness that survivors deserve. You do not have to have all the answers before you call. You just have to be willing to take one step.

If you were abused by Father Micarelli, or by another priest connected to the Diocese of Providence, Camp Yawgoog, or the Diocesan Scouting program, your experience matters. The Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 report, which identified Micarelli as one of the most prolific abusers in the Diocese’s history, gives survivors a foundation of documented facts that can support a civil claim. The revival window created by H-7200a/S-2616a, open from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028, gives you a real and limited timeframe to act.

Sommers Schwartz handles these cases on a contingency basis, which means you pay no attorney fees unless they recover compensation for you. There is no financial barrier to reaching out. The firm can also help you understand whether you may file anonymously as a Jane Doe or John Doe plaintiff, which is an option available in Rhode Island civil proceedings and one that many survivors find essential to moving forward.

You have already carried this long enough. The law is now on your side. Reach out to Sommers Schwartz today for a free, confidential consultation. What happened to you was not your fault, and you deserve to have someone in your corner who will fight to hold the right people accountable.

FAQs About Father Micarelli and Rhode Island Clergy Abuse Claims

Was Father Edmond Micarelli ever criminally prosecuted for his abuse?

Father Micarelli was never criminally prosecuted. According to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 report, the Diocese did not report his alleged abuse to law enforcement until 2008. By that point, the criminal statute of limitations had expired, preventing prosecution. Micarelli died in 2019, the same year the Diocese published its first List of Credibly Accused Clergy, which included his name. While criminal prosecution is no longer possible, Rhode Island’s new civil revival window allows survivors to pursue civil claims against institutions that enabled or covered up the abuse.

Can I still file a civil lawsuit if the abuse happened in the 1960s or 1970s?

Yes, you may be able to file a civil lawsuit under Rhode Island’s new 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, open from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028, during which survivors can bring otherwise time-barred claims against institutions and supervisors accused of enabling or covering up sexual abuse. If you were abused by Father Micarelli or another Diocese of Providence priest decades ago, this window may apply to your situation. Speaking with an attorney as soon as possible is the best way to understand your options before the window closes.

Who can be held responsible in a civil claim related to Father Micarelli’s abuse?

Under Rhode Island’s new law, civil claims can be brought not only against individual abusers but also against institutions and supervisors accused of enabling or covering up sexual abuse. In the context of Father Micarelli’s case, that could include the Diocese of Providence, which had documented knowledge of abuse complaints and continued to place him in ministry roles with access to children. The Boy Scouts of America may also be a relevant party, given that Micarelli served as a Boy Scout chaplain at Camp Yawgoog and was listed in the Boy Scouts’ ineligible volunteers files. An attorney can evaluate the specific facts of your case to identify all responsible parties.

What if I am not sure whether my experience qualifies as abuse?

Many survivors carry years of uncertainty about what happened to them, especially when the abuse was committed by someone they trusted or who was trusted by their family. You do not need to have a legal conclusion ready before you call. A consultation with Sommers Schwartz is confidential and free, and it is designed to help you understand your situation without pressure. What Father Micarelli and other credibly accused priests did to children was a profound betrayal of trust. If something happened to you that felt wrong, you deserve the chance to talk about it with someone who will listen and help you understand your rights.

Can I file my lawsuit anonymously?

Rhode Island courts allow survivors to file civil lawsuits using a pseudonym, such as Jane Doe or John Doe, in certain circumstances. This option is available to help protect survivors’ privacy and reduce the fear of public exposure that can prevent people from coming forward. Sommers Schwartz can advise you on whether anonymous filing is available in your specific case and what steps are involved. Many survivors find that knowing they can pursue justice without their name becoming public makes it possible to take the first step. Your privacy and safety are priorities throughout this process.

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 Meglio
• Father Menard
• 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