Father Paul Desrosiers was a priest of the Diocese of Providence who has been credibly accused of sexually abusing minors. He was ordained in 1940 and served as a parish priest and member of the Diocesan Tribunal from 1959 to 1968. He died in 1984 at age seventy-one from injuries sustained in a bus crash while traveling in Granada, Spain, and the allegation concerning his conduct surfaced only many years after his death. If you or someone you love experienced abuse connected to Father Paul Desrosiers, you are not alone, and what happened was not your fault. Rhode Island’s legal landscape has changed significantly in 2026, and survivors now have real options for seeking accountability. A sexual assault lawyer at Sommers Schwartz can walk you through exactly where you stand and what comes next.

Table of Contents

• Who Was Father Paul Desrosiers and Where Did He Serve?
• Father Paul Desrosiers Was Added to the Diocese’s Credibly Accused List
• What the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 Report Found About Diocesan Cover-Ups
• Rhode Island’s 2026 Child Sexual Abuse Law Opens a Two-Year Window for Survivors
• How Survivors Can Pursue a Civil Claim Related to Father Paul Desrosiers
• Why Sommers Schwartz Is the Right Choice for Rhode Island Clergy Abuse Survivors
• FAQs About Father Paul Desrosiers and Rhode Island Clergy Abuse Claims

Who Was Father Paul Desrosiers and Where Did He Serve?

Father Paul Desrosiers is a separate individual from Father Alfred Desrosiers, another credibly accused priest in the Diocese of Providence. Both men appear on the Rhode Island Attorney General’s list of clergy with credible allegations of child sexual misconduct, but their assignment histories and the allegations against them are distinct. Understanding who served where matters when survivors are trying to piece together their own experiences.

Father Paul Desrosiers was ordained in 1940 and served as a parish priest and member of the Diocesan Tribunal from 1959 to 1968. According to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office credibly accused clergy records, his assignment history included St. Augustin Church in Newport from 1979 to 1980, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Providence from 1980 to 1981, St. John Church in Providence in 1981, Rhode Island Hospital in Providence in 1981, and St. Margaret Church in East Providence from 1981 to 1983. He was subsequently suspended, and records reflect a period of assignment to the Diocese of Isernia-Venafro in Italy from 1994 to 1997, followed by further suspension.

That assignment history spans multiple communities across Rhode Island. If you attended any of those parishes or were connected to any of those institutions during the years he served there, your experience deserves to be heard. Survivors often carry memories for decades before finding the words or the courage to talk about what happened. There is no timeline you should have followed, and reaching out now is never too late to start the process.

Father Paul Desrosiers Was Added to the Diocese’s Credibly Accused List

Father Paul Desrosiers was ordained in 1940 and his name was added in 2019 to the diocesan list of clergy credibly accused of abuse of a minor. That list is maintained by the Diocese of Providence, which covers all five counties in Rhode Island. Being placed on that list means the Diocese determined there was a credible basis to believe the allegations against him were more likely than not true.

The Rhode Island Attorney General’s Appendix A contains summaries of 72 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. Father Paul Desrosiers is among those individuals. The Attorney General’s investigation relied on Diocesan records, law enforcement records, civil and criminal proceedings, and victim interviews to reach its conclusions.

It is important to know that a credible accusation does not require a criminal conviction. Civil claims operate under a different standard than criminal prosecution. Even when a priest has died, as Father Paul Desrosiers did in 1984, survivors may still have claims against the Diocese and other institutional supervisors who enabled or concealed the abuse. Those institutional claims are exactly what Rhode Island’s newest law addresses.

What the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 Report Found About Diocesan Cover-Ups

Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Neronha’s March 2026 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 finding is not abstract. It describes a system that protected institutions at the expense of children, and it applies directly to the environment in which Father Paul Desrosiers served.

The report identified 75 clergy members who sexually abused more than 300 children since 1950. The investigation examined how the Diocese responded when abuse was reported internally, and the findings are consistent across many cases. Priests were moved between parishes rather than removed. Allegations were handled quietly. Survivors were often left with no recourse.

The pattern documented in the Attorney General’s report is exactly why institutional accountability matters so much. When a bishop, a diocese, or another supervisor knew about abuse and chose silence over protection, they share responsibility for the harm that followed. Rhode Island law now gives survivors a direct path to hold those institutions accountable, not just the individual priest. If you were abused while Father Paul Desrosiers served in any of his Rhode Island assignments, the Diocese’s own response to abuse within its ranks is a central part of your potential claim.

Rhode Island’s 2026 Child Sexual Abuse Law Opens a Two-Year Window for 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. This law, known as H-7200A and S-2616A, was signed on June 11, 2026, and took 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. That matters enormously for survivors of clergy abuse. Many people who were abused as children in the 1960s, 1970s, or 1980s were told years ago that their legal options had expired. This law changes that for claims against institutions and supervisors.

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 2026 law directly addresses that gap. Survivors who previously had no path to sue the Diocese or other enabling institutions now have one, but only through June 30, 2028. Time is real here, and acting promptly gives you and your attorney the best opportunity to build a strong case.

Working with an experienced sexual abuse lawyer who understands both the new revival window and the Diocese of Providence’s documented history of concealment gives you the strongest possible foundation for your claim.

How Survivors Can Pursue a Civil Claim Related to Father Paul Desrosiers

Father Paul Desrosiers died in 1984, which means he cannot be sued as an individual defendant. However, his death does not end the legal conversation. The institutions that supervised him, employed him, and assigned him to parishes across Rhode Island may still face civil liability if they knew about abuse or failed to take action to protect children in their care.

Under Rhode Island’s new child sexual abuse law (H-7200A/S-2616A), claims against institutions and supervisors that were previously time-barred can now be brought during the two-year revival window. The Diocese of Providence, as the governing body that oversaw Father Paul Desrosiers throughout his assignments, is the type of institutional defendant this law was designed to reach. The Attorney General’s 2026 report documented that the Diocese repeatedly failed to act on abuse allegations across dozens of cases, and that pattern of institutional failure is legally significant.

Civil claims in sexual abuse cases can seek compensation for the harm survivors have carried for years, including emotional suffering, the cost of therapy, and other losses. You do not need a criminal conviction, a prior report to police, or any prior legal action to file a civil claim. Many survivors who have never told anyone about their abuse are still fully eligible to pursue a claim. If you are considering your options, speaking with a sexual assault attorney at Sommers Schwartz costs nothing and carries no obligation. Our team listens, answers your questions honestly, and helps you decide what feels right for you.

Why Sommers Schwartz Is the Right Choice for Rhode Island Clergy Abuse Survivors

Sommers Schwartz is a multi-state law firm representing survivors of sexual assault and sexual abuse, including those harmed by clergy within the Diocese of Providence. Our attorneys understand the history of institutional abuse in Rhode Island, the specific provisions of the 2026 revival window law, and the emotional weight survivors carry when they decide to come forward. We approach every case with respect, patience, and a genuine commitment to your wellbeing.

We handle cases on a contingency basis, which means you pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you. There are no upfront costs and no financial risk to speaking with us. We also understand that many survivors want to protect their privacy. Rhode Island courts allow survivors to file civil claims anonymously using a Jane Doe or John Doe designation, which means your name does not have to be made public as part of the legal process.

The two-year revival window runs only through June 30, 2028. That is a real deadline, and cases involving institutional defendants take time to investigate, document, and file properly. Reaching out to Sommers Schwartz now gives our team the time to review your situation carefully and pursue your claim with the attention it deserves. You have waited long enough. We are ready to stand with you.

FAQs About Father Paul Desrosiers and Rhode Island Clergy Abuse Claims

Can I still file a claim if Father Paul Desrosiers is deceased?

Yes. Rhode Island’s 2026 child sexual abuse law (H-7200A/S-2616A) creates a two-year revival window for claims against institutions and supervisors accused of enabling or covering up abuse. Even though Father Paul Desrosiers died in 1984, survivors may still have viable civil claims against the Diocese of Providence and other institutional defendants that supervised him and failed to protect children in their care. An attorney can review the specific facts of your situation and tell you what options are available.

What does it mean that Father Paul Desrosiers was “credibly accused”?

A credible accusation, as defined in the Rhode Island Attorney General’s investigation, means there is a reasonable basis to believe the alleged conduct more likely than not occurred. This is a civil standard, not a criminal one. It does not require a conviction, an arrest, or even a prior report to police. The Diocese of Providence and the Attorney General both determined that allegations against Father Paul Desrosiers met that threshold, which is why his name appears on the credibly accused list.

What is the deadline to file a claim under Rhode Island’s 2026 revival window?

The revival window created by H-7200A/S-2616A, signed by Governor Dan McKee on June 11, 2026, and effective July 1, 2026, runs through June 30, 2028. Claims against institutions and supervisors that were previously time-barred must be filed before that date or they may be permanently barred. Acting promptly is important because building and filing a civil claim takes time, and waiting until the final months of the window creates unnecessary risk.

Do I have to report the abuse to the police before I can file a civil lawsuit?

No. A civil lawsuit is completely separate from a criminal investigation. You do not need to have reported the abuse to law enforcement, and you do not need a criminal case to be open or resolved before you can pursue a civil claim. Many survivors who have never spoken to police or church officials are fully eligible to file a civil lawsuit. Your decision to pursue a civil claim is entirely yours, and it does not require any prior action on your part.

Will my name be made public if I file a lawsuit?

Not necessarily. Rhode Island courts permit sexual abuse survivors to file civil lawsuits anonymously using a Jane Doe or John Doe designation. This means you can pursue accountability and compensation without your name appearing in public court records. Protecting your privacy is something Sommers Schwartz takes seriously, and we will explain all of your options before any paperwork is filed. Your comfort and safety throughout this process matter to us.

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 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