Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church on Federal Hill in Providence was once one of the most prominent Catholic parishes in Rhode Island. The church had been a place of Roman Catholic worship since 1925. Built to serve a population of 18,000 parishioners, mostly Italian-Americans of Federal Hill, the congregation eventually dwindled to 200-300 people. The parish closed on July 1, 2016, and merged into Holy Ghost Parish, Providence, with that merger approved by Bishop Thomas J. Tobin. What many parishioners did not know for decades is that the church appeared in the Rhode Island Attorney General’s own report as one of the Diocese of Providence parishes where five or more credibly accused clergy served. If you or someone you love was abused at this church, 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 options under Rhode Island law.

Table of Contents

• What the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Report Revealed About Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church
• Credibly Accused Clergy With Ties to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, Providence
• Rhode Island’s New Child Sexual Abuse Law (H-7200A/S-2616A) and What It Means for Survivors
• How the Diocese of Providence’s Institutional Failures Affect Your Civil Claim
• You Have Rights, and Sommers Schwartz Is Ready to Help You Use Them
• FAQs About Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church Providence Sexual Abuse Claims

What the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Report Revealed About Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church

The Rhode Island Attorney General released a comprehensive report on clergy sexual abuse within the Diocese of Providence in March 2026. That report was the product of a multi-year investigation. 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.

The report’s findings about Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, Providence, are deeply troubling. The Attorney General’s data shows that the Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Providence, was one of only a handful of parishes in the entire state where five or more credibly accused clergy served during the review period. That places it among a very small group of parishes that drew the most serious scrutiny in the investigation.

The report also documented how accused clergy moved between assignments across the Diocese. The 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 investigation found that accused priests were repeatedly returned to ministry. For survivors who were abused at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, this pattern of institutional behavior is deeply relevant. It means the harm you suffered may not have been the result of one person acting alone. Institutions can be held accountable, and that accountability is now within reach.

Lawmakers cited the findings of the Attorney General’s report as a key factor in advancing legislation to expand survivors’ ability to pursue civil claims. The report gave survivors a public record they can point to, and it gave legislators the evidence they needed to act.

Credibly Accused Clergy With Ties to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, Providence

The Rhode Island Attorney General’s credibly accused clergy list names specific priests with assignment histories tied to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Providence. These are individuals the Attorney General’s Office determined had credible allegations of child sexual abuse against them. It is important to understand that a credible finding by the Attorney General’s Office is not a criminal conviction. However, it is a serious determination based on a thorough review of records, and it matters enormously for civil claims.

According to the Attorney General’s assignment records, Father Joseph D’Angelo served at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, Providence, from 1980 to 1981. His assignment history also shows he served at several other Diocese of Providence parishes over the course of his career, and he was ultimately laicized in 2006. Father D’Angelo passed away in January 2026.

Monsignor Anthony DeAngelis also appears in the Attorney General’s records with an assignment at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, Providence, in 1936. He later served at Sacred Heart Church, West Warwick, for more than four decades before retiring in 1979.

The Attorney General’s report also documented how accused clergy frequently cycled through multiple parishes. The report identified 75 clergy members who sexually abused more than 300 children since 1950. The sheer number of parishes touched by this abuse, including Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, shows that the problem was systemic, not isolated. If a priest who served at this church abused you, your experience fits a pattern that the state of Rhode Island has now officially recognized.

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

On June 11, 2026, Governor Dan McKee signed Rhode Island legislation H-7200A/S-2616A into law. 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.

This is a genuine turning point for survivors who believed their chance to seek civil justice had passed. The new law establishes a two-year civil revival window that opens from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2028, and during this 24-month period, survivors can file civil suits even if the statute of limitations on their claims had previously expired.

The law targets institutional accountability directly. Before this legislation, a 2023 Rhode Island Supreme Court ruling had limited earlier reforms to claims against individual perpetrators only. 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. H-7200A/S-2616A was written specifically to address that gap. It allows survivors to pursue claims against institutions, such as the Diocese of Providence, and the supervisors who covered up abuse.

The legislation passed with overwhelming support. The Rhode Island House of Representatives voted 68-4 to approve the bill. The Rhode Island Senate previously passed the bill with a 37-0 vote. That near-unanimous support reflects how seriously Rhode Island lawmakers took the Attorney General’s findings. If you were abused at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church and your claim was previously time-barred, this window is your opportunity. Do not wait. The window closes on June 30, 2028, and claims not filed by that date may be permanently barred.

How the Diocese of Providence’s Institutional Failures Affect Your Civil Claim

Understanding the difference between a criminal case and a civil claim matters. A criminal case is brought by the state and must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. A civil lawsuit is brought by you, the survivor, and seeks financial accountability from the people and institutions that harmed you. The two processes are separate, and a civil claim can move forward even when no criminal charges were filed.

The Diocese of Providence is not a single church. It is a large, organized institution. According to the Attorney General’s report, the Diocese is comprised of 178 individual corporations representing the numerous parishes, offices, and agencies within it. The bishop holds broad authority, described in the report as “the chief legislator, executive, and judge in the diocese.” That concentration of power is also a source of legal responsibility when abuse is enabled or concealed.

H-7200A/S-2616A was designed with exactly this structure in mind. It allows claims against institutions and supervisors, not just individual perpetrators. That means the Diocese of Providence itself, and the officials who managed priest assignments and responded to abuse allegations, can now be named in civil litigation during the revival window.

The Attorney General’s report documented a pattern where accused priests were moved between parishes rather than removed from ministry. Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church was one of the parishes in that rotation. If you were abused there, evidence of the Diocese’s broader pattern of conduct is now part of the public record, and it can be relevant to your civil case. Working with an experienced sexual abuse lawyer gives you the best chance of building a claim that holds the right parties accountable.

You Have Rights, and Sommers Schwartz Is Ready to Help You Use Them

Coming forward takes courage. Many survivors of clergy abuse at places like Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church spent years, sometimes decades, carrying the weight of what happened to them in silence. Shame, fear, and the power of the Church all played a role in keeping survivors quiet. None of that is your fault. The abuse was never your fault. The law now recognizes what survivors have always known: that children cannot be expected to report abuse immediately, and that institutions which protected abusers must be held accountable.

Sommers Schwartz is a multi-state law firm with attorneys who represent sexual assault and sexual abuse survivors in Rhode Island. The firm handles these cases with a trauma-informed approach, meaning your comfort, your pace, and your dignity matter throughout the process. You will never be pressured, and you will never be judged. The attorneys at Sommers Schwartz understand the unique dynamics of clergy abuse cases, including the power imbalance between a priest and a child, the role of the institution in enabling harm, and the long-term effects that abuse can have on survivors’ lives.

Filing a claim under the new revival window does not require you to face your abuser in a courtroom. Many civil cases resolve without a trial. You can also ask your attorney about filing as a Jane Doe or John Doe, which allows you to pursue your claim while protecting your identity in public court records. Rhode Island courts recognize this option in appropriate cases, and a qualified sexual assault attorney can advise you on whether it applies to your situation.

The revival window opened July 1, 2026, and it will close on June 30, 2028. That is a firm deadline. If you were abused at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Providence, or at any other Diocese of Providence parish or institution, contact Sommers Schwartz now. A confidential consultation costs you nothing, and it could be the first step toward the accountability you deserve.

FAQs About Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church Providence Sexual Abuse Claims

Was Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, Providence, specifically identified in the Rhode Island Attorney General’s clergy abuse report?

Yes. The Rhode Island Attorney General’s report on child sexual abuse in the Diocese of Providence identified the Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Providence, as one of the parishes where five or more credibly accused clergy served during the review period. That places it among a small group of parishes that received the most serious scrutiny in the investigation. The report also documented the assignment histories of specific priests tied to the church, including Father Joseph D’Angelo and Monsignor Anthony DeAngelis.

What does Rhode Island’s new law H-7200A/S-2616A actually do for survivors of abuse at this church?

The law, signed by Governor Dan McKee on June 11, 2026, and effective July 1, 2026, amends the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse claims and creates a two-year window for survivors to bring otherwise time-barred claims against institutions and supervisors accused of enabling or covering up sexual abuse. This means that if your claim against the Diocese of Providence or another institution was previously expired, you now have a window to file it. That window runs from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028.

Can I file a civil claim even if the priest who abused me is deceased or was never criminally charged?

Yes. A civil lawsuit is separate from a criminal case. The death of an abuser does not automatically end your right to pursue a civil claim, particularly against an institution like the Diocese of Providence. Similarly, the absence of criminal charges does not prevent you from filing a civil suit. The standard of proof in a civil case is lower than in a criminal case, and institutions can be held liable for enabling or concealing abuse even when the individual perpetrator is no longer alive or was never prosecuted.

What if I am not sure whether the priest who abused me is on the Attorney General’s credibly accused list?

You do not need to be on any official list to have a valid claim. The Attorney General’s credibly accused list is based on the records the office was able to review, but it is not exhaustive. There may be survivors whose abusers were never formally identified in that report. What matters is your experience, and an attorney can help you investigate the facts, identify the relevant parties, and determine whether your claim is viable under Rhode Island law. Contact Sommers Schwartz for a confidential, no-pressure consultation.

How do I get started with a claim if I am worried about privacy?

Your privacy is a legitimate concern, and Rhode Island law provides options. In appropriate cases, survivors can file civil lawsuits as Jane Doe or John Doe, which shields their identity from public court records. An attorney at Sommers Schwartz can explain how this process works and whether it applies to your case. The first step is a confidential conversation. Nothing you share in that initial consultation will be disclosed without your permission, and you are under no obligation to proceed after speaking with an attorney.

More Resources About Parish & Diocesan Institution Locations

• St. Mary’s Church, Cranston
• Our Lady of Mercy, East Greenwich
• St. Aloysius Home, Smithfield
• Jesus Savior Church, Newport
• St. Matthew Church, Cranston
• St. Mary Church, Bristol
• St. Raphael Academy, Pawtucket
• St. Joseph Church, Woonsocket
• St. Margaret Church, East Providence
• St. Anthony Church, North Providence
• Immaculate Conception Church, Cranston
• St. Jude’s Parish, Lincoln
• St. Michael Church, Providence
• Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) Programs in Rhode Island