St. Mary’s Church in Cranston, Rhode Island, holds a painful distinction. According to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s March 2026 report on child sexual abuse in the Diocese of Providence, St. Mary’s Church in Cranston led all other parishes in the number of accused clergy, following the release of a report accusing the Catholic Diocese of Providence of a “well-worn pattern” of failing to remove dozens of priests accused of child sexual abuse — a report that identified 75 clergy members who sexually abused more than 300 children since 1950. If you were abused at St. Mary’s Church in Cranston, or by a priest who served there, you are not alone. What happened to you was not your fault. And for the first time in decades, Rhode Island law now gives you a real opportunity to hold the institution accountable.

Table of Contents

• St. Mary’s Church, Cranston Had More Accused Clergy Than Any Other Parish in the Diocese
• How the Diocese of Providence Enabled Abuse at St. Mary’s Church, Cranston
• Accused Priests Who Served at St. Mary’s Church, Cranston
• Rhode Island’s New Child Sexual Abuse Law Gives St. Mary’s Survivors a Path to Justice
• Why the 2026 Revival Window Matters Specifically for St. Mary’s Church, Cranston Survivors
• How Sommers Schwartz Helps Survivors of Clergy Abuse in Rhode Island
• FAQs About St. Mary’s Church, Cranston Sexual Abuse Claims

St. Mary’s Church, Cranston Had More Accused Clergy Than Any Other Parish in the Diocese

The numbers from the Rhode Island Attorney General’s investigation are stark. The report, released in March 2026 by Attorney General Peter F. Neronha, 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. Within that broader picture, St. Mary’s Church in Cranston stands out above every other parish.

According to the Attorney General’s report on child sexual abuse in the Diocese of Providence, 10 accused clergy cycled through St. Mary’s Church in Cranston during the review period, more than any other single church in the state. The report also found that St. Mary’s Church in Cranston had the highest number of reported victims of any parish, with 21 victims identified at that location alone.

That is not a coincidence. The report documents how accused priests were frequently reassigned rather than removed, giving them repeated access to new communities and new children. St. Mary’s Church in Cranston was part of that pattern. Priests with credible allegations against them served there, and the Diocese knew, or should have known, about the risk they posed.

Among the accused clergy connected to St. Mary’s Church in Cranston, the Attorney General’s report and credibly accused clergy list include Father Alfred Santagata, who served at St. Mary Church, Cranston from 1954 to 1964. Father John Abruzzese served at St. Mary Church, Cranston from 1990 to 2001, having previously served at St. Paul Church, Cranston from 1981 to 1983. Father Lepire was also connected to St. Mary’s in Cranston, and was placed on leave by church officials in 1996 after a victim from St. Mary’s in Cranston disclosed his abuse and filed a lawsuit.

These were not isolated incidents. They were part of a system-wide failure that allowed abuse to continue for decades inside one of Rhode Island’s most prominent Catholic parishes.

How the Diocese of Providence Enabled Abuse at St. Mary’s Church, Cranston

Understanding what happened at St. Mary’s Church in Cranston requires understanding how the Diocese of Providence operated. Catholic priests in Rhode Island preyed on hundreds of children for decades, getting away with sexual abuse largely due to a system where bishops prioritized minimizing scandal as the diocese maintained a secret archive to conceal the revelation of more victims.

The Attorney General’s report describes a clear pattern. When abuse allegations arose, diocesan leaders often responded by reassigning the accused priest rather than reporting the conduct to law enforcement. Priests were sent to treatment centers with the expectation they would return to ministry. The Diocese of Providence opened a “spiritual retreat-style facility” in the early 1950s, where several accused priests were sent for treatment with the goal of returning to work, a practice that evolved into sending accused priests to more formal treatment centers after determining clergy abuse may be a mental health problem.

At St. Mary’s Church in Cranston, this meant that children in the parish were exposed to priests who had already been accused elsewhere. The Attorney General’s report found that accused clergy serving at St. Mary’s came from other assignments across the Diocese, and the Diocese’s own records show that leadership was aware of concerning behavior long before action was taken.

The report also found that the Diocese kept a secret archive of abuse-related documents. The church turned over 70 years’ worth of material, including complaints from its secret archives, civil settlement records, treatment costs, and other documents. That archive existed because the Diocese was tracking these situations internally, while keeping survivors and the public in the dark.

This is institutional negligence. And under Rhode Island’s new child sexual abuse law, institutions that enabled or covered up abuse can now be held legally accountable by survivors whose claims were previously time-barred.

Accused Priests Who Served at St. Mary’s Church, Cranston

The Rhode Island Attorney General’s credibly accused clergy list and the 2026 report identify multiple priests with ties to St. Mary’s Church in Cranston. These are not unverified rumors. The Attorney General’s office reviewed over 70 years of diocesan records in reaching these findings, though it is important to note that inclusion on the credibly accused list is not a finding of criminal guilt, and most accused clergy were never convicted.

Father Alfred Santagata served at St. Mary Church, Cranston from 1954 to 1964. The Attorney General’s report describes Father Francis Santilli, another credibly accused priest, as having reportedly sexually abused altar servers in rectories and sacristies. The report describes how Santilli would reportedly place children on his lap and touch their genitals over and under their clothing. He is listed on the Diocese’s Credibly Accused List.

Father John Abruzzese is listed on the credibly accused clergy list with an assignment history that includes St. Mary Church, Cranston from 1990 to 2001, and his faculties were suspended in 2001. Father Lepire was also connected to the parish. A lawsuit claims Lepire abused a 15-year-old in 1983 in his office, and Lepire was ultimately dismissed from the priesthood in 2004.

The Attorney General’s report makes clear that the abuse at St. Mary’s Church in Cranston was not the work of one bad actor. Multiple priests, across multiple decades, abused children in that community. And the Diocese, which had the power to stop it, repeatedly chose not to. If you recognize any of these names, or if you were abused by a priest at St. Mary’s Church in Cranston whose name does not appear here, your experience still matters and your legal rights are real.

Rhode Island’s New Child Sexual Abuse Law Gives St. Mary’s Survivors a Path to Justice

For decades, many survivors of abuse at St. Mary’s Church in Cranston had no legal recourse. The statute of limitations had expired, and prior Rhode Island law left them with no way to file a civil claim against the Diocese. That changed on June 11, 2026, when Governor Dan McKee signed legislation H-7200a/S-2616a into law.

Governor Dan McKee signed legislation amending the statute of limitations for child victim claims of sexual abuse and creating 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 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 not limited to claims against individual priests. 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 who were abused as children and whose claims had long since expired, this window is a genuine second chance. 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.

The revival window is temporary. All time-barred claims must be filed by June 30, 2028, or they may be forever barred. If you were abused at St. Mary’s Church in Cranston, the time to act is now. A sexual assault lawyer with experience in Rhode Island clergy abuse cases can help you understand exactly where you stand under this new law.

Why the 2026 Revival Window Matters Specifically for St. Mary’s Church, Cranston Survivors

The 2026 revival window created by H-7200a/S-2616a is particularly significant for survivors connected to St. Mary’s Church in Cranston. This parish had the highest concentration of accused clergy and the most reported victims of any church in the Diocese of Providence. Many of those survivors are now adults, some in their 50s, 60s, or 70s, who were told for years that their time to seek justice had passed.

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.

St. Mary’s Church in Cranston was central to that report. The Attorney General’s findings give survivors from that parish a documented record of institutional failure to point to in civil litigation. That matters because the revival window specifically allows claims against institutions and supervisors who enabled or covered up abuse, not just individual perpetrators.

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 2026 law directly addresses that gap. It is now possible to pursue claims against the Diocese of Providence itself for its role in enabling the abuse that occurred at St. Mary’s Church in Cranston.

If you worked with a sexual abuse lawyer in 2019 and were told your institutional claims could not proceed, that analysis may have changed. The 2026 law creates a new legal basis for those claims, and the window to file them is open now.

How Sommers Schwartz Helps Survivors of Clergy Abuse in Rhode Island

Sommers Schwartz is a multi-state law firm that represents survivors of sexual assault and sexual abuse, including those whose abuse occurred within the Catholic Church. Our attorneys understand that coming forward is one of the hardest decisions a survivor can make. We also understand the law, and we know how to use it on your behalf.

We handle clergy abuse claims with the seriousness and sensitivity they deserve. We know that survivors of abuse at St. Mary’s Church in Cranston may have spent years, even decades, carrying the weight of what happened to them in silence. Shame, fear, and the belief that no one would believe them kept many survivors quiet. None of that is your fault. What happened to you was a crime, and the institution that allowed it to happen had a legal duty to protect you.

The 2026 revival window created by H-7200a/S-2616a is open now, but it will not stay open. The deadline to file time-barred claims is June 30, 2028. That may feel like a long time, but building a strong civil case takes time, and waiting until the last moment limits your options. The earlier you speak with an attorney, the better positioned you will be.

Our team can review your situation, explain your rights under the new law, and help you decide whether filing a claim is the right step for you. We handle cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. You can also file under a pseudonym in Rhode Island court. If privacy is a concern, speaking with a sexual assault attorney is still a confidential conversation, and you are under no obligation to file after consulting with us.

Reach out to Sommers Schwartz today. Tell us what happened. We will listen, and we will fight for you.

FAQs About St. Mary’s Church, Cranston Sexual Abuse Claims

How many accused priests were connected to St. Mary’s Church in Cranston?

According to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s March 2026 report on child sexual abuse in the Diocese of Providence, 10 accused clergy cycled through St. Mary’s Church in Cranston during the review period, more than any other single parish in the Diocese. The report also identified 21 reported victims connected to that location, again the highest of any parish in the state. These figures come from diocesan records reviewed during a multi-year investigation and represent documented, credible allegations, though inclusion on the credibly accused list is not a finding of criminal guilt.

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

Yes. Rhode Island’s new child sexual abuse 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 for survivors to file claims that were previously blocked by the statute of limitations. This window runs from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028. If your claim was time-barred under the old law, this window reopens the courthouse door. Claims must be filed before June 30, 2028, or they may be permanently barred, so acting promptly is important.

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

Yes, and this is one of the most important features of the 2026 law. H-7200a/S-2616a specifically allows survivors to bring claims against institutions and supervisors accused of enabling or covering up sexual abuse. Prior to this law, a 2023 Rhode Island Supreme Court ruling had limited institutional claims under the 2019 statute. The 2026 law directly addresses that gap. The Diocese of Providence, as the institution responsible for supervising accused clergy at St. Mary’s Church in Cranston, can now be named as a defendant in civil litigation brought during the revival window.

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

You do not need to be certain before speaking with an attorney. The Attorney General’s credibly accused list represents documented allegations, but it is not exhaustive. Survivors whose abusers are not on the list may still have valid legal claims. The Attorney General’s office has acknowledged that the true number of victims and abusive clergy is likely higher than what was documented. If you were abused at St. Mary’s Church in Cranston, or by a priest connected to that parish, speak with an attorney who can evaluate your specific situation under current Rhode Island law.

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

Not necessarily. Rhode Island courts allow survivors to file civil lawsuits under a pseudonym, such as “Jane Doe” or “John Doe,” in appropriate circumstances. This means your name does not have to appear in public court records. Many survivors choose this option to protect their privacy and the privacy of their families. An attorney can walk you through the process of filing anonymously and help you understand what information, if any, may become part of the public record. Your privacy matters, and there are legal tools in place to protect it.

More Resources About Parish & Diocesan Institution Locations

• 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
• 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