Father Hugh Rafferty was a Roman Catholic priest ordained by the Diocese of Providence in 1964. He served at parishes in Rhode Island before his ministry ended, and he was later named on the Diocese of Providence’s credibly accused clergy list. According to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 report on child sexual abuse in the Diocese of Providence, a woman reported in 1995 that Father Rafferty raped her in his bedroom at the rectory of St. Matthew Parish in Cranston when she was 13 years old, during the mid-1960s. If you were harmed by Father Rafferty, or by any other clergy member in Rhode Island, you are not alone, and what happened to you was not your fault. Rhode Island’s new child sexual abuse law may give you a path to justice that you did not have before.

Table of Contents

• Who Was Father Hugh Rafferty and What Are the Allegations Against Him?
• How the Diocese of Providence Responded to the Rafferty Allegation
• Rhode Island’s 2026 Child Sexual Abuse Law and What It Means for Survivors
• Who Can File a Claim Under Rhode Island’s Revival Window?
• Why Institutional Accountability Matters in the Rafferty Case
• FAQs About Father Rafferty and Rhode Island Clergy Abuse Claims

Who Was Father Hugh Rafferty and What Are the Allegations Against Him?

Father Hugh Rafferty was born on March 21, 1933, and ordained into the Diocese of Providence on June 4, 1964. According to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office credibly accused clergy list, his known Rhode Island assignments included St. Matthew Church in Cranston from 1964 to 1966, and St. Leo the Great Church in Pawtucket from 1966 to 1967. He was removed from ministry on November 1, 1974, and was laicized by Pope Paul VI in December 1976. He died on January 11, 2001.

The Attorney General’s 2026 report on child sexual abuse in the Diocese of Providence contains a deeply troubling account connected to Rafferty. The report states that in 1995, the pastor of St. Gregory the Great Parish in Warwick informed the Diocese’s Office of Education and Compliance that a woman reported Father Rafferty raped her in his bedroom at the St. Matthew Parish rectory in Cranston when she was 13 years old, during the mid-1960s. At the time of that report, Rafferty had already been laicized.

Rafferty was also named on the Diocese of Providence’s credibly accused clergy list, which the Diocese first published in July 2019. He was named on the Diocese’s July 2019 list, with allegations received after his death. He was also included on the Diocese of Rockville Centre’s list of accused clergy in March 2021. The allegations against Rafferty span more than one diocese, which speaks to a pattern that the Rhode Island Attorney General’s investigation brought into sharp focus.

The fact that a survivor came forward in 1995 to report abuse that occurred in the 1960s is not unusual. Survivors of childhood sexual abuse often carry their trauma for decades before they feel safe enough to speak. That courage deserves to be honored, not questioned. If you experienced abuse by Father Rafferty, your experience matters and your voice matters.

How the Diocese of Providence Responded to the Rafferty Allegation

The Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 report does not describe any meaningful institutional response to the 1995 report about Father Rafferty. The allegation was received by the Diocese’s compliance office, but because Rafferty had already been laicized years earlier, the Diocese’s response is not documented in the report as involving law enforcement notification or a formal investigation.

This pattern of delayed or inadequate response is central to the Attorney General’s broader findings. The Attorney General’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. The report identified 75 clergy members who sexually abused more than 300 children since 1950.

The Diocese’s credibly accused clergy list, while a step toward transparency, has also drawn criticism for what it leaves out. The Attorney General’s report noted that for most credibly accused priests, the list states only that each priest was “removed from ministry” on a given date, without explaining what that phrase actually means or what steps, if any, were taken to protect children. That kind of institutional opacity is exactly what Rhode Island’s new child sexual abuse law is designed to address.

Survivors who were harmed by clergy like Father Rafferty, and who believe the Diocese or other supervisors knew about the abuse and failed to act, may now have legal options they did not have before. A sexual abuse lawyer with experience in Diocese of Providence clergy cases can help you understand whether your claim qualifies under Rhode Island’s new law.

Rhode Island’s 2026 Child Sexual Abuse Law and What It Means for Survivors

Rhode Island’s new child sexual abuse law, known as H-7200A/S-2616A, is now in effect. On June 11, 2026, Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee signed legislation giving survivors of childhood sexual abuse a new opportunity to pursue civil claims that would otherwise be permanently closed. The new law took effect on July 1, 2026.

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. This is a critical development for survivors whose claims were previously blocked because too much time had passed.

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. For someone who was abused by Father Rafferty at St. Matthew Church in Cranston in the 1960s, this window is significant. It means that a claim that was previously time-barred against the Diocese or supervisors who may have known about the abuse can now potentially be filed.

The law also addresses the gap created by a 2023 Rhode Island Supreme Court ruling. 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 directly corrects that problem. It targets institutional accountability, meaning the Diocese of Providence and other supervisory bodies can now be sued during the revival window for their role in enabling or concealing abuse.

All time-barred claims must be filed by June 30, 2028, or they may be forever barred. This deadline is real. If you believe you have a claim, the time to act is now.

Who Can File a Claim Under Rhode Island’s Revival Window?

Rhode Island’s revival window is open to survivors of childhood sexual abuse who were previously unable to file a civil claim because the statute of limitations had run out. The window applies broadly. It applies to survivors of sexual abuse in any institutional setting, including churches, schools, youth programs, athletic organizations, and anywhere else an institution failed to protect a child in its care.

For survivors connected to Father Rafferty specifically, the question is whether the Diocese of Providence or other supervisory figures knew about the abuse, or should have known, and failed to act. If the answer is yes, a civil claim against those institutions may be possible during the revival window. You do not need a criminal conviction, and you do not need to have reported the abuse at the time it happened. Many survivors never told anyone for years, and that is completely understandable.

Survivors who were abused as children 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. The clock does not start running until a survivor turns 18. These are the ongoing rules for future claims. The revival window is a separate, temporary opportunity for claims that are already time-barred under those rules.

The push for this law was directly connected to the Attorney General’s investigation. Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha released a comprehensive report on March 4, 2026, of a multi-year investigation into clergy sexual abuse within the Diocese of Providence. The report identified approximately 75 clergy members with credible allegations involving more than 300 minor children and described patterns in which accused clergy were reassigned and allegations were inconsistently reported to authorities.

If you were abused by Father Rafferty or another credibly accused priest in the Diocese of Providence, speaking with a sexual assault lawyer now, before the window closes, is the most important step you can take.

Why Institutional Accountability Matters in the Rafferty Case

Father Rafferty’s case is not just about one priest. It is about a system that allowed abuse to happen and, in some cases, failed to respond meaningfully when survivors came forward. The 1995 report to the Diocese about Rafferty came decades after the alleged abuse occurred. By then, he was already laicized. But the question survivors and their attorneys ask is this: what did the Diocese know, and when did it know it?

Holding institutions accountable is the core purpose of Rhode Island’s new revival window law. The 2023 Rhode Island Supreme Court decision had blocked survivors from suing the Diocese and other institutions for their role in enabling abuse. The 2026 law, H-7200A/S-2616A, reopens that door. The legislation applies to institutions the civil culpability that had already been applied to perpetrators. That is a meaningful shift in how Rhode Island law treats organizations that failed to protect children.

For survivors of Father Rafferty’s alleged abuse, this means the Diocese of Providence may now be a proper civil defendant during the revival window, if evidence supports that it knew about or concealed the abuse. That is a question a skilled sexual assault attorney can help you evaluate based on the specific facts of your situation.

You deserve answers. You deserve accountability. And you deserve to have someone in your corner who understands both the law and the weight of what you have carried. The attorneys at Sommers Schwartz represent survivors of clergy sexual abuse in Rhode Island and are ready to listen. Reaching out does not commit you to anything. It simply starts a conversation that could change your life.

FAQs About Father Rafferty and Rhode Island Clergy Abuse Claims

Was Father Hugh Rafferty officially listed as a credibly accused priest by the Diocese of Providence?

Yes. Father Hugh Rafferty was included on the Diocese of Providence’s credibly accused clergy list, which was first published in July 2019. He was removed from ministry on November 1, 1974, and was laicized by Pope Paul VI in December 1976. He died on January 11, 2001. Allegations against him were received after his death. He was also named on the Diocese of Rockville Centre’s credibly accused list in March 2021.

What does the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 report say about Father Rafferty?

The Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 report on child sexual abuse in the Diocese of Providence includes an account of a woman who reported in 1995 that Father Rafferty raped her in his bedroom at the St. Matthew Parish rectory in Cranston when she was 13 years old, during the mid-1960s. The report documents this as part of a broader pattern of abuse and institutional failure within the Diocese.

Can I still file a lawsuit related to Father Rafferty’s alleged abuse even though he is deceased?

Father Rafferty died in 2001, which means a civil lawsuit cannot be filed against him personally. However, Rhode Island’s new child sexual abuse law, H-7200A/S-2616A, which took effect July 1, 2026, creates a two-year revival window allowing survivors to file otherwise time-barred claims against institutions and supervisors accused of enabling or covering up abuse. This means the Diocese of Providence may be a proper defendant if evidence supports institutional knowledge or concealment. The window runs through June 30, 2028.

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

The revival window created by H-7200A/S-2616A opened on July 1, 2026, and closes on June 30, 2028. Any time-barred claims that are not filed before that date may be permanently barred. If you believe you have a claim connected to Father Rafferty or any other credibly accused clergy member in Rhode Island, you should speak with an attorney as soon as possible to avoid missing this deadline.

How do I know if my experience qualifies for a civil claim under Rhode Island’s new law?

Every survivor’s situation is different, and whether your claim qualifies depends on the specific facts, including when the abuse occurred, where it happened, and what the institution knew or should have known. The attorneys at Sommers Schwartz offer confidential consultations for survivors of clergy sexual abuse in Rhode Island. Speaking with an attorney does not obligate you to file a lawsuit. It simply gives you the information you need to make an informed decision about your options during the revival window.

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 Micarelli
• Father O’Connell
• Father J.F. O’Neil
• Father W. O’Neill
• Father Powers
• 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