Father Peter L. Tedeschi is named on the Rhode Island Attorney General’s credibly accused clergy list, which was published as part of a comprehensive 2026 investigation into child sexual abuse within the Diocese of Providence. His name appears among 75 clergy members identified in that report, and the allegations against him describe a pattern of repeated abuse that took place across multiple parishes over several years. If you or someone you love was abused by Father Tedeschi, or by any member of the Diocese of Providence clergy, you are not alone, and what happened was not your fault. A sexual assault lawyer at Sommers Schwartz can help you understand your rights and your legal options under Rhode Island’s newest and most significant child sexual abuse law.

Table of Contents

• Who Is Father Peter L. Tedeschi and What Did the Diocese Know?
• The Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 Report and What It Found
• Rhode Island’s New Child Sexual Abuse Law (H-7200A / S-2616A) and What It Means for Survivors
• Who Can File a Claim Under the Revival Window, and Against Whom?
• Why Survivors Often Wait, and Why That Delay Is Understandable
• How Sommers Schwartz Can Help Survivors of Father Tedeschi’s Abuse
• FAQs About Father Tedeschi and Rhode Island Clergy Abuse Claims

Who Is Father Peter L. Tedeschi and What Did the Diocese Know?

Father Peter L. Tedeschi was ordained a Roman Catholic priest on June 4, 1960, and served the Diocese of Providence for more than two decades before his death on October 18, 1986. According to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s credibly accused clergy list, he held assignments at multiple parishes across Rhode Island, including Holy Trinity Church in Central Falls, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Providence, St. Alexander Church in Warren, St. Ann Church in Providence, St. Anthony Church in Woonsocket, St. Mary Church in Cranston, and St. Joseph Hospital in Providence.

The allegations against Father Tedeschi are serious. He was accused of repeatedly sexually abusing an underage girl for over a year in the sanctuary, rectory, his car, and in school hallways. The victim alleged telling another priest during confession at age 15 but was told to tell no one, and when she confronted her alleged abuser at age 22, he reportedly admitted to the abuse.

The victim informed the Diocese on two occasions. The Diocese contacted law enforcement in 2012. Father Tedeschi was named on the Diocese’s credibly accused list in July 2019. That timeline raises a painful question: how many years passed between the abuse, the victim’s disclosures, and any meaningful institutional response? The answer, by any measure, is far too many.

The Rhode Island AG’s report documented a pattern that extended well beyond any single priest. The Attorney General described failures to report abuse to civil authorities, failures to properly investigate complaints internally, the return of accused priests to ministry, reliance on treatment, secrecy, and decisions that protected the reputation of the Church and its priests over the safety of children. Father Tedeschi’s case fits squarely within that documented pattern.

The Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 Report and What It Found

A report published on March 4, 2026, details hundreds of allegations of abuse by Catholic priests following an Attorney General investigation. The multi-year investigation concerned review of Diocese of Providence internal records relating to clergy abuse dating back to 1950. Father Tedeschi is among those named in that report’s appendix of credibly accused clergy.

The report identified 300 people who reported being abused as a child by Diocese of Providence clergy, 75 credibly accused clergy members the Diocese employed from 1950 to 2022, and 36 Rhode Island municipalities served by the accused clergy. On average, it took survivors 26 years to report their abuse. That last figure matters. It means that many survivors of clergy abuse, including those abused by Father Tedeschi, spent decades carrying the weight of what happened to them before feeling safe enough to come forward.

The AG’s report also found that the Diocese had a documented pattern of prioritizing institutional reputation over child safety. As illustrated in other cases documented in the report, such as those involving Father Francis Santilli, survivors who did come forward were sometimes met with skepticism, asked to take polygraphs, or told their complaints could not be substantiated. The report makes clear that this was not the result of isolated failures. It was a system-wide problem.

The report also outlined how the Diocese allegedly concealed that abuse for decades. For survivors of Father Tedeschi, understanding that institutional failure is not just historical context. It is the foundation of a potential civil claim against the Diocese itself.

Rhode Island’s New Child Sexual Abuse Law (H-7200A / S-2616A) and What It Means for Survivors

Rhode Island enacted a landmark child sexual abuse law that directly affects survivors who believed their legal options had expired. 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. The new law takes effect on July 1, 2026.

The legislation (2026-H 7200A, 2026-S 2616A) was sponsored by House Judiciary Committee Chairwoman Carol Hagan McEntee and Sen. Mark McKenney. Governor Dan McKee signed it into law on June 11, 2026. The legislation came directly in response to the AG’s report and years of advocacy by survivors.

The law does two important things. First, it amends the statute of limitations going forward. 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. Second, it creates a revival window for previously time-barred claims. 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.

Before this law, a critical gap existed. 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 law closes that gap. Survivors of Father Tedeschi’s abuse can now pursue claims against the Diocese of Providence itself, not just the individual who is now deceased.

Who Can File a Claim Under the Revival Window, and Against Whom?

The revival window created by H-7200A / S-2616A applies broadly. The new law specifically targets institutions and organizations such as churches, schools, youth programs, healthcare facilities, and sports leagues, as well as supervisors. That means a survivor of Father Tedeschi’s abuse does not need to sue only the deceased priest. The Diocese of Providence, as the institution that assigned, supervised, and retained Father Tedeschi across multiple parishes, can be named as a defendant.

This matters enormously for survivors. Father Tedeschi died in 1986. A civil claim against him personally would face obvious practical limits. But the Diocese of Providence is a functioning institution. The question that drives institutional liability is what the Diocese knew, when it knew it, and what it did or failed to do in response. Did supervisors receive complaints? Were warning signs ignored? Was Father Tedeschi transferred to a new parish rather than removed? These are exactly the kinds of questions that civil litigation is designed to answer.

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. Father Tedeschi served at St. Joseph Hospital in Providence from 1979 to 1985. That institutional setting, like a parish, carries its own questions about supervision and oversight. Survivors who encountered him in any of his assignments should know that a civil claim is potentially available to them right now.

The window is open, but it is not permanent. All time-barred claims must be filed by June 30, 2028, or they may be forever barred. Survivors who want to explore their options should act promptly. Working with an experienced sexual abuse lawyer now gives you the best chance to build a strong claim before that deadline passes.

Why Survivors Often Wait, and Why That Delay Is Understandable

If you were abused by Father Tedeschi and have never told anyone, or if you told someone and were dismissed, you are not alone in that experience. The AG’s report found that the average time it took survivors to report their abuse was 26 years. That number reflects a reality that trauma researchers, advocates, and courts increasingly recognize: survivors of childhood sexual abuse often cannot come forward quickly, and the reasons for that delay have nothing to do with the truth of what happened to them.

Abuse by a trusted religious authority figure carries a particular weight. Priests occupied a position of spiritual, moral, and social power in Catholic communities. When that authority is used to harm a child, the child is often left with shame, confusion, and fear, not just about the abuser, but about what coming forward might mean for their family, their faith community, and themselves. One survivor in the AG’s report described telling a priest during confession and being instructed to say nothing. That kind of silencing is not a personal failure. It is an institutional one.

Rhode Island law now formally acknowledges this reality. The lookback window reflects a broader recognition that delayed disclosure is common in cases involving childhood sexual abuse. The law does not penalize survivors for taking time to process trauma. It gives them a defined period to act when they are ready. If you are reading this now and asking yourself whether it is too late, the answer, for many survivors, is that it is not. What happened to you was not your fault, and the law is now on your side.

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

Sommers Schwartz represents survivors of clergy sexual abuse in Rhode Island and across the country. The firm’s attorneys understand how to hold institutions accountable, not just individual abusers, and that distinction is critical in cases like those involving Father Tedeschi, where the alleged perpetrator is deceased but the institution that enabled him is not.

Cases against the Diocese of Providence require a thorough understanding of Rhode Island civil law, the AG’s report and its findings, the institutional record of the Diocese, and the specific assignment history of the accused priest. Father Tedeschi served across seven different assignments over a 26-year career. Each of those assignments represents a period during which the Diocese had supervisory responsibility for his conduct. A skilled sexual assault attorney will examine the full record to build the strongest possible case.

At Sommers Schwartz, we handle these cases with care and discretion. We know that coming forward is one of the hardest things a survivor can do. We also know that civil litigation can be a powerful tool for accountability, and that it can provide survivors with a measure of justice that criminal prosecution, especially against a deceased priest, cannot. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing unless we recover for you.

The revival window opened on July 1, 2026, and closes on June 30, 2028. That is a limited time. If you were abused by Father Tedeschi, or by any other member of the Diocese of Providence clergy, we encourage you to contact Sommers Schwartz today for a free, confidential consultation. You deserve to know your options. You deserve to be heard.

FAQs About Father Tedeschi and Rhode Island Clergy Abuse Claims

Can I still file a lawsuit against the Diocese of Providence for abuse by Father Tedeschi if he is deceased?

Yes. Father Tedeschi died in 1986, but Rhode Island’s new law (H-7200A / S-2616A), effective July 1, 2026, allows 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 assigned and supervised Father Tedeschi, can be named as a defendant. You do not need the individual abuser to be alive to pursue a civil claim against the institution that failed to protect you.

What is the deadline for filing a claim under Rhode Island’s revival window?

The revival window opened on July 1, 2026, and closes on June 30, 2028. Any claim that was previously time-barred under the old statute of limitations must be filed before that deadline or it may be permanently lost. This two-year window was created specifically for survivors whose claims had expired under prior law. Acting sooner rather than later gives your attorney the most time to investigate and build your case.

I told someone about the abuse years ago and nothing happened. Does that affect my ability to file a claim now?

No. The fact that you reported the abuse previously and were not taken seriously does not prevent you from filing a civil claim now. In fact, prior disclosures that were ignored by the Diocese or other authorities may actually strengthen your case by showing that the institution had notice of the abuse and failed to act. The new law does not require that your complaint have been formally investigated or substantiated in the past. What matters is that the abuse occurred and that you are filing within the revival window.

What parishes and locations did Father Tedeschi serve, and does my location matter for a claim?

Father Tedeschi served at Holy Trinity Church in Central Falls, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Providence, St. Alexander Church in Warren, St. Ann Church in Providence, St. Anthony Church in Woonsocket, St. Mary Church in Cranston, St. Joseph Hospital in Providence, and St. Joseph Church in Cumberland. The location where the abuse occurred can be relevant to identifying which institutional actors had supervisory responsibility at the time, but survivors from any of these assignments may have a viable claim. An attorney can help you evaluate your specific situation.

Will I have to publicly identify myself if I file a lawsuit?

Not necessarily. Rhode Island courts permit survivors to file lawsuits under pseudonyms, such as “Jane Doe” or “John Doe,” in appropriate cases. This option exists to protect your privacy while still allowing you to pursue justice through the civil court system. Your attorney can advise you on whether anonymous filing is appropriate in your case and how to request it from the court. At Sommers Schwartz, we treat every client’s privacy with the utmost care from the very first 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 Santagata
• Father Francis Santilli
• Father John Scagnelli
• Father Smyth
• Father Tanguay
• Father Tormey
• Father Tousignant
• Father Turillo
• Father Ventre