Father Alfred Santagata served as a priest in the Diocese of Providence for a decade, assigned to St. Mary Church in Cranston from 1954 to 1964. He died on August 18, 1967. Despite his death more than five decades ago, multiple survivors have come forward with accounts of sexual abuse they say he committed against them as children. Their courage matters. So does the law that now gives survivors a real path to justice. If you or someone you love was abused by Father Santagata, you are not alone, and what happened was not your fault.

Table of Contents

• Who Was Father Alfred Santagata and What Are the Allegations Against Him?
• How the Diocese of Providence Responded to Abuse Allegations Over the Years
• Rhode Island’s New Child Sexual Abuse Law and What It Means for Survivors
• Why the Revival Window Is Especially Important for Survivors of Father Santagata
• What Survivors Can Expect When They Come Forward
• How Sommers Schwartz Represents Rhode Island Clergy Abuse Survivors
• FAQs About Father Santagata and Rhode Island Clergy Abuse Claims

Who Was Father Alfred Santagata and What Are the Allegations Against Him?

Father Alfred Santagata was born on August 25, 1914, and ordained as a Catholic priest within the Diocese of Providence. According to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office, his known assignment history places him at St. Mary Church in Cranston from 1954 to 1964. That ten-year period at a single parish gave him sustained access to children in the community.

A woman alleged in March 2024 that Santagata sexually abused her at St. Mary’s when she was between ages 12 and 14, between 1961 and 1963. That report adds to a pattern that has drawn increasing scrutiny from state investigators and survivors alike.

Santagata is among the priests named in the Rhode Island Attorney General’s comprehensive 2026 report on child sexual abuse within the Diocese of Providence. That report concluded that the Diocese of Providence concealed decades of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy, identifying at least 315 victims and 72 credibly accused clergy. Being named in that report is significant. The Attorney General determined that each credibly accused clergy member had been accused of child sexual misconduct based on the totality of information in the office’s possession.

The fact that Santagata died in 1967 does not erase what survivors experienced. It does, however, affect the legal strategy for pursuing accountability. Civil claims in situations like this often focus on the institution, the Diocese, and those who supervised and enabled the accused, rather than the individual priest alone. That is exactly what Rhode Island’s newest law now addresses.

How the Diocese of Providence Responded to Abuse Allegations Over the Years

The 2026 Attorney General’s report revealed a troubling pattern across the Diocese of Providence, one that extended well beyond any single priest. For more than seven decades, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence concealed the sexual abuse of hundreds of children by over six dozen clergy members. Investigators found that institutional responses to abuse complaints were often designed to protect the Church’s reputation rather than the children in its care.

The review found that historically, the Diocese did not report any complaints of sexual abuse of children to law enforcement. When reporting did begin to improve, it remained inconsistent. Even in the 1990s, when reporting began to improve, the Diocese still withheld complaints about priests who were still living.

The Diocese’s investigative practices also came under fire. In cases involving other priests named in the same report, survivors who came forward were asked to take polygraph examinations by diocesan officials, a practice the Attorney General’s report described as inappropriate and harmful. One survivor reported feeling treated as a suspect rather than as a victim. Another described the experience as “revictimizing.” These accounts reflect a broader institutional failure to apply trauma-informed practices when survivors came forward.

There was also evidence that the Diocese had a practice of destroying confidential files when priests died. For a priest like Santagata, who died in 1967, this raises serious questions about what records may have existed and what was lost. Survivors deserve to know the full truth, and the law now provides tools to pursue it.

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

Rhode Island’s new child sexual abuse law, enacted as H-7200A and S-2616A, changes the legal options available to survivors who believed their window to file a claim had already closed. 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. Governor Dan McKee signed it on June 11, 2026, and the new law takes 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. This is a critical distinction. Many survivors of clergy abuse were told for years that they had no legal recourse because too much time had passed. That answer has changed.

The law also addresses future claims. 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 statute of limitations begins running when the survivor turns 18.

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 closes that gap. The new law specifically targets institutions and organizations such as churches, schools, youth programs, healthcare facilities, and sports leagues, as well as supervisors. For survivors of clergy abuse within the Diocese of Providence, this means claims against the Diocese itself, not just a deceased priest, are now possible within the revival window.

Why the Revival Window Is Especially Important for Survivors of Father Santagata

Because Father Santagata died in 1967, a direct civil claim against him personally is not possible. But that does not mean survivors are without options. The 2026 law was built precisely for situations like this, where the individual abuser is gone but the institution that enabled or concealed the abuse remains. Claims against the Diocese of Providence, as an institution, fall squarely within what the new law targets.

The push for this law was closely tied to a 284-page report released in March 2026 by Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha. The report documented more than 300 survivors of abuse within the Diocese of Providence and identified 75 clergy members with credible allegations of sexual misconduct dating back to 1950. It also outlined how the Diocese allegedly concealed that abuse for decades.

Survivors of Santagata’s alleged abuse who were told years ago that the statute of limitations had expired now have a defined window to pursue a civil claim. All time-barred claims must be filed by June 30, 2028, or they may be forever barred. That deadline is real and it is not far away. Waiting is the one thing survivors cannot afford to do.

A civil claim can serve multiple purposes. It can provide financial accountability. It can compel the release of institutional records. And for many survivors, it provides a form of recognition that what happened to them was real, serious, and wrong. Working with an experienced sexual abuse lawyer who understands Rhode Island’s revival window is the most important step a survivor can take right now.

What Survivors Can Expect When They Come Forward

Coming forward is one of the hardest decisions a survivor will ever make. Many people wait years, or decades, before they feel ready to talk about what happened. That delay is not a weakness. Trauma affects memory, disclosure, and trust in profound ways, and the law now formally recognizes this reality. You do not need to have reported the abuse before to pursue a civil claim today.

When you contact Sommers Schwartz, you will speak with a compassionate team that takes your account seriously. There is no pressure and no judgment. Our attorneys understand the unique dynamics of clergy abuse cases, including the power imbalance that exists between a child and a trusted religious authority figure. What Father Santagata allegedly did was a profound betrayal of that trust, and it was not your fault.

A sexual assault lawyer at Sommers Schwartz will review the facts of your situation, explain what the 2026 revival window means for your specific claim, and help you understand whether a lawsuit against the Diocese of Providence or other responsible parties is an option. Rhode Island also allows survivors to file lawsuits under pseudonyms in certain circumstances, which can provide an additional layer of privacy for those who are concerned about public exposure.

The process begins with a confidential conversation. You control how much you share and when. Our goal is to give you the information you need to make the best decision for yourself, on your own timeline.

How Sommers Schwartz Represents Rhode Island Clergy Abuse Survivors

Sommers Schwartz is a multi-state law firm with attorneys who represent survivors of sexual assault and abuse across Rhode Island. The firm has the resources, experience, and commitment to take on institutions like the Diocese of Providence in civil litigation. Clergy abuse cases require a particular kind of preparation, including a thorough understanding of diocesan records, assignment histories, and the patterns of institutional cover-up that the 2026 Attorney General’s report documented in detail.

The attorneys at Sommers Schwartz approach every case with a trauma-informed perspective. That means listening first, building trust, and never asking a survivor to prove their pain before we take their case seriously. We understand that survivors of childhood sexual abuse carry wounds that are often invisible to others, and that the decision to pursue a civil claim can bring up complicated emotions alongside a sense of purpose and resolve.

Rhode Island’s revival window runs only through June 30, 2028. By temporarily suspending the statute of limitations for these claims, the legislation offers those who suffered trauma decades ago a chance to seek justice against a perpetrator and any other party that may have had some level of involvement in the claims, regardless of how much time has passed. For survivors of Father Santagata’s alleged abuse, that opportunity is available right now, but only for a limited time.

If you were abused by Father Santagata at St. Mary Church in Cranston or anywhere else during his time in ministry, please reach out to a sexual assault attorney at Sommers Schwartz today. The consultation is free, confidential, and carries no obligation. You have waited long enough.

FAQs About Father Santagata and Rhode Island Clergy Abuse Claims

Can I still file a lawsuit if Father Santagata is deceased?

Yes. Because Father Santagata died in 1967, a direct claim against him personally is not available. However, Rhode Island’s new law (H-7200A/S-2616A), signed on June 11, 2026, and effective July 1, 2026, creates a two-year revival window specifically allowing survivors to bring civil claims against institutions and supervisors accused of enabling or covering up sexual abuse. The Diocese of Providence, as the institution that oversaw Santagata’s ministry, may be a proper defendant in such a claim. An attorney can evaluate the specific facts of your situation and advise you on the best path forward.

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

The revival window opened on July 1, 2026, and closes on June 30, 2028. Any claim that was previously time-barred must be filed before that closing date. After June 30, 2028, those claims may be permanently barred. This makes acting quickly essential. If you are unsure whether your claim qualifies, speaking with an attorney as soon as possible gives you the best chance of preserving your legal rights.

What does it mean that Father Santagata was named in the Rhode Island Attorney General’s report?

The Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office released a comprehensive report on the Diocese of Providence in March 2026. Being named in that report means the Attorney General determined there was a reasonable basis to believe the alleged misconduct more likely than not occurred, based on the totality of information available. The report identified Santagata as a priest against whom credible allegations of child sexual abuse were made, based on survivor accounts. The report itself does not create civil liability, but it is significant evidence of both the abuse and the institutional context surrounding it.

Do I have to give my name publicly if I file a lawsuit?

Not necessarily. Rhode Island courts allow survivors to file civil lawsuits using pseudonyms, such as “Jane Doe” or “John Doe,” in certain circumstances. This option can protect your privacy while still allowing you to pursue a legal claim. Your attorney can advise you on whether anonymous filing is appropriate for your case and how to request it from the court. Sommers Schwartz treats every client’s privacy as a priority from the very first conversation.

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

Many survivors struggle with this question, especially when the abuse happened in childhood and was carried out by a trusted authority figure like a priest. You do not need to have a legal definition in mind before you call. What matters is that something happened to you that felt wrong, that you did not consent to, and that has affected your life. An attorney at Sommers Schwartz will listen to your account without judgment and help you understand whether it falls within the scope of a civil claim under Rhode Island law. There is no cost and no obligation to that initial conversation.

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 Raiche
• Father Reynolds
• Father Rocha
• Father Sadowski
• Father Francis Santilli
• Father John Scagnelli
• Father Smyth
• Father Tanguay
• Father Tedeschi
• Father Tormey
• Father Tousignant
• Father Turillo
• Father Ventre