St. Mary Church in Bristol, Rhode Island, has served the East Bay community for more than 170 years. The first St. Mary’s Church in Bristol was constructed in 1855 as a plain wooden structure, operating as a mission of the Warren church. In 1874, the Bristol church became an independent parish and saw large increases to membership as more Irish families settled in the area. For generations of families, the parish was a center of faith, community, and trust. That trust, however, was violated by credibly accused clergy who served within the Diocese of Providence, and whose reported abuse has now been documented in a sweeping state investigation. If you or someone you love was harmed at St. Mary Church, Bristol, you are not alone, and what happened was not your fault. A sexual assault attorney at Sommers Schwartz can help you understand your legal options under Rhode Island’s new law.

Table of Contents

• What the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Report Revealed About St. Mary Church, Bristol
• Credibly Accused Clergy Linked to St. Mary Church, Bristol
• How Rhode Island’s New Child Sexual Abuse Law (H-7200A / S-2616A) Affects Bristol Survivors
• How Abuse Happened at Parish Settings and Why It Went Unreported
• Why Sommers Schwartz Is the Right Choice for Bristol Survivors
• FAQs About St. Mary Church, Bristol Sexual Abuse Claims

What the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Report Revealed About St. Mary Church, Bristol

The Rhode Island Attorney General released a comprehensive report in March 2026 documenting decades of clergy sexual abuse within the Diocese of Providence. The report named approximately 75 clergy members with credible allegations of abuse involving more than 300 minor children. St. Mary Church in Bristol appeared directly in that report’s findings.

According to the data compiled by the Attorney General’s Office, St. Mary Church, Bristol ranked among the top parishes in the state for reported abuse. The Rhode Island Attorney General’s report, released on March 4, 2026, 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 figures show that St. Mary Church, Bristol was associated with seven reported victims and three accused clergy assignments when reported abuse occurred. Those numbers place Bristol among the most significantly impacted parishes in the entire Diocese. For survivors who spent years wondering if anyone would ever acknowledge what happened to them, this report is a formal, documented confirmation that the abuse was real, it was widespread, and it was known.

The investigation also found that abuse at Diocesan parishes frequently took place in churches, rectories, and parish schools. Children who served as altar servers or participated in church programs were particularly vulnerable. 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. For survivors connected to St. Mary Church in Bristol, that pattern directly affected their lives.

Credibly Accused Clergy Linked to St. Mary Church, Bristol

Two credibly accused clergy members appear in the Diocese of Providence’s records with assignments connected to the Bristol area. Understanding who these individuals were, and where they served, is important for survivors trying to make sense of what happened to them.

Father Mario Bordignon is listed among the credibly accused clergy in the Diocese of Providence. According to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Credibly Accused Clergy list, Father Bordignon served at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Bristol from 1959 to 1964. His assignment history places him in the Bristol Catholic community during a period that falls within the scope of the Attorney General’s investigation.

Father Peter Scagnelli is also listed on the Diocese’s Credibly Accused List. His assignment history shows that he served at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, Bristol from 1981 to 1987, and simultaneously at Roger Williams University in Bristol from 1981 to 1985. He also served at the East Bay Regional CYO Center in East Providence from 1985 to 1986. The CYO, or Catholic Youth Organization, gave accused clergy direct access to children through organized recreational and religious programming, which the Attorney General’s report identified as one of the settings where abuse occurred.

The Diocese’s own Credibly Accused List is a formal acknowledgment that these individuals faced credible allegations of sexual misconduct. If you had contact with either of these individuals, or with any other clergy member at a Bristol-area parish, speaking with a sexual abuse lawyer at Sommers Schwartz can help you determine whether you have a viable civil claim.

How Rhode Island’s New Child Sexual Abuse Law (H-7200A / S-2616A) Affects Bristol Survivors

Rhode Island’s new child sexual abuse law, signed by Governor Dan McKee on June 11, 2026, and effective July 1, 2026, is a direct response to the scale of abuse documented in the Diocese of Providence investigation. 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 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 matters enormously for survivors connected to St. Mary Church, Bristol, many of whom may have believed their window for legal action had closed permanently.

Before this law, a 2023 Rhode Island Supreme Court ruling had held that a prior 2019 statute only applied to suits against individual perpetrators, not the institutions or supervisors who enabled them. Rhode Island’s legislation (2026-H 7200A, 2026-S 2616A) was sponsored by House Judiciary Committee Chairwoman Carol Hagan McEntee and Sen. Mark McKenney. The new law directly addresses that gap, allowing claims against institutions like the Diocese of Providence itself.

This is not a permanent extension. All time-barred claims must be filed by June 30, 2028, or they may be forever barred. If you were abused as a child at St. Mary Church in Bristol, or anywhere else in the Diocese of Providence, the clock is running. Reaching out to a qualified sexual assault lawyer now gives you the best chance to understand and act on your rights before the window closes.

How Abuse Happened at Parish Settings and Why It Went Unreported

Survivors often carry deep confusion about why they did not report abuse sooner, or why no one around them seemed to notice. The answer lies in how abuse was structured and concealed within institutional settings like St. Mary Church in Bristol.

The Rhode Island Attorney General’s report found that in virtually all reported cases, accused clergy capitalized on their access to children through the Church. They sought frequent and prolonged contact with youth by allowing minors to gather in or around parish rectories, seeking assignments involving children, and demonstrating excessive involvement in children’s lives. Children who served as altar servers or participated in church programs were especially targeted.

Once a child was under a priest’s supervision, grooming typically followed. The Attorney General’s report documented that victims were groomed with attention and gifts, such as clothing and money. Abusers also used fear and shame to keep children silent. The report documented priests telling victims they would face severe consequences if they disclosed the abuse, including threats designed to make children feel that telling the truth would destroy them.

Parents trusted priests completely. In many cases, abuse occurred while unsuspecting parents were nearby, sometimes even in the next room. The sheer depth of that betrayal is part of why so many survivors spent decades in silence. None of that silence reflects any fault on the part of the survivor. The responsibility for the abuse, and for the cover-up that followed, rests entirely with the perpetrators and the institution that protected them.

The lookback window reflects a broader recognition that delayed disclosure is common in cases involving childhood sexual abuse. Rhode Island’s legislature built this reality into the law itself.

Why Sommers Schwartz Is the Right Choice for Bristol Survivors

Sommers Schwartz is a nationally recognized multi-state law firm with attorneys who represent survivors of sexual assault and sexual abuse, including those with claims connected to the Diocese of Providence and its parishes. The firm understands the courage it takes to come forward, and every step of the legal process is handled with care for the whole person, not just the legal claim.

The attorneys at Sommers Schwartz have experience holding institutions accountable in exactly the kinds of cases that Rhode Island’s new law now makes possible. Claims against the Diocese of Providence, its supervisors, and any institution that enabled or covered up abuse require attorneys who understand both the legal framework and the human reality behind each case. Sommers Schwartz brings both.

The firm represents clients on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay no attorney fees unless your case results in a recovery. There is no financial barrier to getting a consultation. You can share your story confidentially, ask questions, and learn what your options are without any pressure or obligation.

Time is a real factor under Rhode Island’s new law. The revival window opened July 1, 2026, and it closes June 30, 2028. Acting sooner rather than later gives your legal team more time to gather records, identify witnesses, and build the strongest possible case. If you are a survivor connected to St. Mary Church, Bristol, or any other parish in the Diocese of Providence, Sommers Schwartz is ready to listen and ready to fight for you.

FAQs About St. Mary Church, Bristol Sexual Abuse Claims

Was St. Mary Church, Bristol specifically named in the Rhode Island Attorney General’s clergy abuse report?

Yes. The Rhode Island Attorney General’s March 2026 report on child sexual abuse in the Diocese of Providence identified St. Mary Church, Bristol as one of the parishes where reported abuse occurred. The report’s data shows seven reported victims and three accused clergy assignments connected to the parish, placing it among the most significantly impacted parishes in the Diocese.

Which credibly accused clergy were assigned to the Bristol area?

Two credibly accused clergy members appear in the Diocese of Providence’s records with assignments connected to Bristol. Father Mario Bordignon served at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Bristol from 1959 to 1964. Father Peter Scagnelli served at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, Bristol from 1981 to 1987, and at Roger Williams University in Bristol from 1981 to 1985. Both are listed on the Diocese’s Credibly Accused List.

What does Rhode Island’s new child sexual abuse law actually do for survivors?

Rhode Island’s new law, H-7200A/S-2616A, 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 revival window. This window allows survivors to bring civil claims against institutions and supervisors accused of enabling or covering up sexual abuse, even if those claims were previously time-barred. The window runs from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028.

Can I file a claim against the Diocese of Providence itself, not just the individual priest who abused me?

Yes. Rhode Island’s new law specifically addresses claims against institutions and supervisors accused of enabling or covering up sexual abuse. This means survivors can pursue civil claims against the Diocese of Providence as an institution, in addition to any individual perpetrators. This is a significant change from prior law, which a 2023 Rhode Island Supreme Court ruling had limited to claims against individual perpetrators only.

What if I am not sure whether my experience qualifies as abuse or whether I have a case?

You do not need to have a fully formed legal theory before reaching out. Many survivors are uncertain about the details or about whether what happened to them “counts.” That uncertainty is completely normal, and it is exactly the kind of question a conversation with an attorney can help answer. Sommers Schwartz offers confidential consultations at no cost and no obligation. You can share what happened, ask questions, and get honest guidance about your options. What happened to you was not your fault, and you deserve to know where you stand.

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
• Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, Providence
• 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