St. Anthony Church, located at 1413 Mineral Spring Avenue in North Providence, Rhode Island, is a Roman Catholic parish within the sexual abuse lawyer community’s focus area, as the Diocese of Providence has faced one of the most significant clergy abuse investigations in Rhode Island history. If you or someone you love was abused by a priest, deacon, or other church official connected to this parish or others in the North Providence area, you are not alone, and what happened was not your fault. Rhode Island’s new law, signed on June 11, 2026, gives survivors a real opportunity to pursue justice, and the attorneys at Sommers Schwartz are here to help you understand your rights every step of the way.

Table of Contents

• The Diocese of Providence and the Clergy Abuse Crisis Affecting North Providence
• Accused Clergy With Ties to North Providence Parishes
• How Rhode Island’s New Child Sexual Abuse Law (H-7200A / S-2616A) Applies to St. Anthony Church Survivors
• What Survivors of Clergy Abuse at St. Anthony Church Can Expect When Pursuing a Civil Claim
• Why Survivors Connected to St. Anthony Church Should Contact Sommers Schwartz Now
• FAQs About St. Anthony Church Sexual Abuse Claims in North Providence

The Diocese of Providence and the Clergy Abuse Crisis Affecting North Providence

The Diocese of Providence oversees every Catholic parish in Rhode Island, including St. Anthony Church in North Providence. The Diocese faced intense scrutiny following the release of a report by Attorney General Peter F. Neronha, which accused it of a “well-worn pattern” of failing to remove dozens of priests accused of child sexual abuse and keeping the abuse secret over decades. That report did not spare North Providence or the parishes surrounding it.

The report identified 75 clergy members who sexually abused more than 300 children since 1950. These were not isolated incidents. They were part of a broader institutional failure that touched communities across the state, including those served by parishes in and around North Providence.

According to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s credibly accused clergy list, at least two priests with assignments in the North Providence area appear on that list. Father Eugene Corbesero served at St. Lawrence Church in North Providence from 1976 to 1977, and Father Paul F. Reynolds served at St. Lawrence Church in North Providence from 1969 to 1982. Both are named on the Diocese of Providence’s credibly accused clergy list, which was made public as part of the Attorney General’s investigation.

The Rhode Island Attorney General’s report also found that accused priests were repeatedly returned to ministry, moving from parish to parish even after allegations surfaced. This pattern of reassignment is central to understanding how abuse continued unchecked for so long in communities like North Providence. If you attended St. Anthony Church or a neighboring parish and experienced abuse, the institutional failures that allowed it to happen were not a reflection of anything you did.

Accused Clergy With Ties to North Providence Parishes

The Rhode Island Attorney General’s credibly accused clergy list documents the assignment histories of priests across the Diocese of Providence. Several priests named on that list served in North Providence or at institutions directly connected to the North Providence community.

Father Paul F. Reynolds, who was ordained in 1965 and retired in November 2007, served at St. Lawrence Church in North Providence from 1969 to 1982. That is a span of thirteen years, during which he had significant access to children and families in the community. Father Reynolds is listed in the Diocese of Providence’s credibly accused clergy documentation, which is reproduced in the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 report.

Father Eugene Corbesero, who was ordained in February 1962 and was later laicized in November 1983, also served at St. Lawrence Church in North Providence from 1976 to 1977. His assignment history spans multiple states and dioceses, which is consistent with the pattern the Attorney General’s report described, where accused clergy were moved rather than removed.

Father Normand Demers, suspended in March 2002, served at Our Lady of Fatima Hospital in North Providence from 1965 to 1973, and again at Our Lady of Fatima Church in North Providence from 1998 to 2002. Hospitals and medical facilities connected to parishes created additional points of access to vulnerable individuals.

The Attorney General’s 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 any of these assignments overlap with your experience, that connection matters legally.

How Rhode Island’s New Child Sexual Abuse Law (H-7200A / S-2616A) Applies to St. Anthony Church Survivors

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. This law, known as H-7200A/S-2616A, is the most significant change to Rhode Island’s civil abuse statutes in years, and it directly affects survivors connected to parishes like St. Anthony Church in North Providence.

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. That means if you believed your time to file had run out, it may not have.

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 critically important because it means the Diocese of Providence, as an institution, can now be named in civil lawsuits filed during this window.

Survivors 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, and the clock does not start running until a survivor turns 18. These forward-looking provisions apply to claims that have not yet expired, while the two-year revival window addresses claims that had already lapsed.

If you were abused at St. Anthony Church, at a North Providence rectory, or anywhere else by a priest or church official connected to the Diocese of Providence, this window is open right now. Acting before June 30, 2028 is essential.

What Survivors of Clergy Abuse at St. Anthony Church Can Expect When Pursuing a Civil Claim

Filing a civil claim as a survivor of clergy sexual abuse is a deeply personal decision, and no one should feel pressured to move faster than they are ready. At the same time, understanding what the process looks like can help you make an informed choice about whether to move forward.

A civil lawsuit for clergy sexual abuse in Rhode Island is separate from any criminal investigation. You do not need to have reported the abuse to police, and you do not need a criminal conviction to pursue a civil claim. Rhode Island General Laws Section 9-1-51 governs civil claims for childhood sexual abuse and provides the framework under which these lawsuits proceed.

In a civil claim against an institution like the Diocese of Providence, the legal theory typically centers on negligence, meaning the institution knew or should have known about the abuse and failed to act. The Attorney General’s report, which documented the Diocese’s pattern of reassigning accused priests rather than removing them, is directly relevant to this kind of institutional liability claim.

The lookback window reflects a broader recognition that delayed disclosure is common in cases involving childhood sexual abuse. Courts and lawmakers understand that survivors often need years, sometimes decades, to process what happened to them. The law was written with that reality in mind, and a civil claim does not require you to have come forward years ago.

A sexual assault lawyer with experience in Rhode Island clergy abuse cases can review the specific facts of your situation, help you understand which defendants may be named, and guide you through each stage of the process with care and discretion.

Why Survivors Connected to St. Anthony Church Should Contact Sommers Schwartz Now

The two-year revival window created by H-7200A/S-2616A is open, but it will not stay open forever. All time-barred claims must be filed by June 30, 2028, or they may be forever barred. For survivors who have waited years or decades to consider legal action, now is the moment that matters.

Sommers Schwartz is a multi-state law firm with attorneys who represent sexual assault and sexual abuse survivors in Rhode Island. The firm brings a compassionate, survivor-centered approach to every case, understanding that reaching out is often the hardest step. You will not be judged. You will not be questioned about why you waited. What happened to you was wrong, and the law now gives you a path forward.

The attorneys at Sommers Schwartz understand the Diocese of Providence’s institutional history, the assignment records of credibly accused clergy, and the legal framework that now allows survivors to hold institutions accountable. Whether your abuse occurred at St. Anthony Church itself, at a rectory, during a youth program, or in any other setting connected to the Diocese of Providence in North Providence, your experience deserves to be heard.

Working with a skilled sexual assault attorney early in the process gives you the best opportunity to preserve evidence, identify all potential defendants, and file within the revival window. Consultations are confidential, and there is no obligation to proceed. The first step is simply a conversation.

You can reach Sommers Schwartz by phone or through the firm’s website. The team is ready to listen, answer your questions honestly, and help you decide whether pursuing a claim is right for you. You do not have to face this alone.

FAQs About St. Anthony Church Sexual Abuse Claims in North Providence

Can I still file a lawsuit if the abuse at St. Anthony Church happened decades ago?

Yes. Rhode Island’s new law, H-7200A/S-2616A, signed by Governor Dan McKee on June 11, 2026 and effective July 1, 2026, creates a two-year revival window that allows survivors to file civil claims even if the statute of limitations on their case had previously expired. This window runs from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2028. If you were abused as a child at St. Anthony Church or by any clergy member connected to the Diocese of Providence, you may be able to file a claim during this period regardless of when the abuse occurred.

Can I sue the Diocese of Providence, not just the individual priest who abused me?

Yes. The new Rhode Island law specifically allows survivors to bring claims against institutions and supervisors accused of enabling or covering up sexual abuse. The Diocese of Providence, as the governing body over St. Anthony Church and all other Rhode Island Catholic parishes, can be named as a defendant in a civil lawsuit if it knew or should have known about abuse and failed to act. The Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 report documented a pattern of institutional failures that is directly relevant to this type of claim.

What if I never reported the abuse to police or church officials?

You do not need to have reported the abuse to law enforcement or to the Diocese of Providence to file a civil lawsuit. Many survivors never reported their abuse, for reasons that are completely understandable. A civil claim is entirely separate from a criminal case, and your decision not to report years ago does not affect your right to pursue a civil claim now. What happened to you was not your fault, and the law does not require you to have spoken up earlier.

How do I know if a priest who served at St. Anthony Church or in North Providence is on the credibly accused list?

The Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office released a comprehensive clergy abuse report in March 2026 that includes the full assignment histories of 75 credibly accused clergy members within the Diocese of Providence. That report is publicly available and documents which priests served at which parishes and institutions. An attorney at Sommers Schwartz can help you review that list, cross-reference assignment records, and determine whether a specific priest or deacon who had contact with you appears on the credibly accused list.

Will my identity be kept private if I file a lawsuit?

Rhode Island courts allow survivors to file civil lawsuits under a pseudonym, such as Jane Doe or John Doe, in appropriate circumstances. This means you may be able to pursue a claim without your name becoming part of the public record. The attorneys at Sommers Schwartz can explain how this process works in Rhode Island and help you understand your options for protecting your privacy while still pursuing justice. Confidentiality is taken seriously at every stage of the process.

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
• Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, Providence
• St. Raphael Academy, Pawtucket
• St. Joseph Church, Woonsocket
• St. Margaret Church, East Providence
• Immaculate Conception Church, Cranston
• St. Jude’s Parish, Lincoln
• St. Michael Church, Providence
• Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) Programs in Rhode Island