Father William Raiche was a Roman Catholic priest who served in the Diocese of Providence, Rhode Island. He was ordained on June 12, 1932, and spent his entire ministry in Woonsocket, serving at Our Lady of Consolation Church from 1932 to 1935, then at Holy Family Church from 1935 to 1958, and finally at Our Lady of Victories Church from 1958 until his retirement in 1978. He died on March 26, 1983. The Diocese of Providence publicly named him on its sexual assault lawyer resource list of credibly accused clergy in July 2019, placing him in the category of deceased priests against whom allegations were received after his death. If you or someone you love was harmed by Father Raiche, what happened was not your fault, and you may have legal options available right now.

Table of Contents

• Who Was Father William Raiche and What Did the Diocese Say About Him?
• How the Diocese of Providence Handled Clergy Abuse Allegations
• Rhode Island’s 2026 Child Sexual Abuse Law Creates a New Window for Survivors
• What Rhode Island Law Says About Institutional Liability in Clergy Abuse Cases
• Why Survivors Often Come Forward Years or Decades Later
• FAQs About Father William Raiche and Rhode Island Clergy Abuse Claims

Who Was Father William Raiche and What Did the Diocese Say About Him?

Father William Raiche was ordained in 1932 and served in the Diocese of Providence. He died on March 26, 1983, and was named publicly as accused by the diocese on its July 2019 list. The Diocese placed him in the category of deceased clergy, noting that allegations were received after his death.

According to the reference material provided by the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office, Father Raiche’s full assignment history shows a long tenure in Woonsocket. He served at Our Lady of Consolation Church in Pawtucket from 1932 to 1935, then at Holy Family Church in Woonsocket from 1935 to 1958, and finally at Our Lady of Victories Church in Woonsocket from 1958 until his retirement on July 8, 1978. That is over four decades of ministry, most of it concentrated in Woonsocket parishes where he had direct access to children and families who trusted him.

The Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office determined that 72 clergy were credibly accused of child sexual misconduct in the Diocese of Providence, relying on records voluntarily produced by the Diocese, law enforcement records, records of criminal and civil proceedings, victim and witness interviews, and publicly available information. Father Raiche appears in that official record.

The fact that the Diocese named him after his death does not make the harm any less real for the people who experienced it. Survivors who were abused by a deceased priest still have rights and may still be able to pursue civil claims against the institutions that employed, supervised, or enabled that priest.

How the Diocese of Providence Handled Clergy Abuse Allegations

The Rhode Island 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. Father Raiche’s long, uninterrupted ministry in Woonsocket parishes fits within that broader institutional context.

The report identified 75 clergy members who sexually abused more than 300 children since 1950. That number represents only the cases the Attorney General could confirm. Many more survivors may never have come forward.

The Attorney General’s investigation examined how the Diocese responded when concerns arose. Across many cases, the pattern was the same: transfer the priest rather than remove him, and keep the matter quiet. The Rhode Island Attorney General’s report documented how accused clergy were repeatedly returned to ministry, often with no meaningful restrictions and no notification to the communities they were entering. Survivors were left without answers, and the institution protected itself.

Father Raiche served in Woonsocket for most of his career. Woonsocket is a community where many families built deep ties to their local parishes. The trust placed in a priest who spent decades in a single city is profound, and the betrayal of that trust carries consequences that can last a lifetime. If you were abused in one of the Woonsocket parishes where Father Raiche served, you are not alone, and what happened to you was not your fault.

Rhode Island’s 2026 Child Sexual Abuse Law Creates a New Window for Survivors

Rhode Island’s new 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, designated 2026-H 7200A and 2026-S 2616A, was sponsored by House Judiciary Committee Chairwoman Carol Hagan McEntee and Senator Mark McKenney. Governor Dan McKee signed it on June 11, 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 a 2023 Rhode Island Supreme Court ruling that found the prior 2019 law only applied to claims against individual perpetrators, not against institutions or supervisors.

This matters enormously for survivors of Father Raiche’s abuse. Because Father Raiche died in 1983, any civil claim against him personally is not available. But the 2026 law creates a path to hold the Diocese of Providence and its supervisors accountable as institutions. If the Diocese knew about concerns regarding Father Raiche, failed to act, or concealed information, that institutional conduct is now squarely within the scope of what the revival window covers. A sexual assault attorney at Sommers Schwartz can help you understand whether your specific situation qualifies.

What Rhode Island Law Says About Institutional Liability in Clergy Abuse Cases

Under Rhode Island General Laws Section 9-1-51, the state’s civil statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse was already extended by the 2019 legislation known as Annie’s Law. That law gave survivors 35 years from the date of the abuse, or seven years from the time they first connected their injury to the abuse, whichever is later, with the clock not starting until the survivor turns 18.

The 2026 law (H-7200A/S-2616A) goes further. It specifically targets the gap left by the Rhode Island Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling. 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 revival window closes that gap by allowing time-barred claims to proceed against institutions and supervisors during the two-year period.

Institutional liability in this context means that the Diocese of Providence, as an organization, can be held responsible for its own conduct, including decisions to reassign priests, failure to report abuse to law enforcement, and concealment of known allegations. This is not just about one priest. It is about a system that, according to the Attorney General’s report, repeatedly chose institutional protection over child safety.

Survivors who were abused by Father Raiche in Woonsocket, or in any of the parishes where he served, may have claims that reach the Diocese directly. Working with a sexual abuse lawyer who understands both Rhode Island law and the specific history of the Diocese of Providence is the clearest path to understanding your options before the window closes on June 30, 2028.

Why Survivors Often Come Forward Years or Decades Later

If you are reading this page many years after the abuse occurred, you are not unusual, and you have nothing to apologize for. Research on childhood trauma consistently shows that survivors frequently take years, and sometimes decades, to disclose what happened to them. Shame, fear, confusion, and the authority that figures like priests hold over children all contribute to silence that can last well into adulthood.

The Rhode Island Attorney General’s investigation confirmed this reality. The lookback window reflects a broader recognition that delayed disclosure is common in cases involving childhood sexual abuse. That is exactly why the legislature created the revival window. Lawmakers understood that many survivors only begin to connect their adult struggles to the abuse they suffered as children after years of reflection, therapy, or simply seeing others come forward.

Father Raiche served Woonsocket communities for decades. The people who attended Holy Family Church and Our Lady of Victories Church during his tenure were part of close-knit parishes where a priest’s word carried enormous weight. Children in those communities were taught to respect and obey clergy. Coming forward against someone in that position of authority, especially after so many years, takes real courage.

You do not need to have reported the abuse to police. You do not need to have told anyone at the time. The law does not require you to have been believed or taken seriously when it happened. What matters now is that you have a window of time to act, and the attorneys at Sommers Schwartz are here to listen without judgment and help you understand your rights.

FAQs About Father William Raiche and Rhode Island Clergy Abuse Claims

Father Raiche is deceased. Can I still file a civil lawsuit related to his abuse?

Yes. Because Father Raiche died in 1983, you cannot sue him personally. However, Rhode Island’s 2026 revival window law (H-7200A/S-2616A) allows survivors to bring civil claims against institutions and supervisors accused of enabling or covering up sexual abuse. If the Diocese of Providence failed to act on concerns about Father Raiche, concealed allegations, or negligently supervised him during his decades of ministry in Woonsocket, those institutional failures may form the basis of a civil claim. The revival window is open from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2028.

What parishes did Father Raiche serve, and does the location of the abuse matter?

Father Raiche served at Our Lady of Consolation Church in Pawtucket from 1932 to 1935, Holy Family Church in Woonsocket from 1935 to 1958, and Our Lady of Victories Church in Woonsocket from 1958 to 1978. The location of the abuse can matter in terms of identifying which institutions or supervisors had oversight responsibility at the time. An attorney can help you connect the specific facts of your situation to the appropriate legal claims.

How does Rhode Island’s new 2026 law differ from the 2019 Annie’s Law?

Annie’s Law, passed in 2019, extended the civil statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse and revived time-barred claims against individual perpetrators. However, a 2023 Rhode Island Supreme Court ruling clarified that the 2019 law did not apply to institutions or supervisors. The 2026 law (H-7200A/S-2616A), signed by Governor Dan McKee on June 11, 2026, specifically creates a two-year revival window for claims against institutions and supervisors accused of enabling or covering up abuse, closing the gap the Supreme Court identified.

Do I need to have reported the abuse to police or the Diocese to file a civil claim?

No. You do not need to have made a prior report to law enforcement or to the Diocese to pursue a civil lawsuit. Civil claims operate independently of criminal proceedings. Many survivors never reported the abuse at the time it happened, for reasons that are completely understandable. The attorneys at Sommers Schwartz work with survivors at every stage of disclosure, including those who are coming forward for the very first time.

How much time do I have to act under the 2026 revival window?

The revival window created by Rhode Island H-7200A/S-2616A runs from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2028. That is a two-year period. Once it closes, previously time-barred claims against institutions and supervisors may be permanently barred. If you believe you were abused by Father Raiche or another Diocese of Providence clergy member, contacting an attorney as soon as possible gives you the best opportunity to gather evidence, build your case, and file before the deadline.

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 Rafferty
• 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