PROVIDENCE, RI, March 4, 2026  – SNAP applauds the courage and perseverance of every survivor and witness who came forward to share their testimony with investigators in the Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha’s investigation into clergy sexual abuse in the Diocese of Providence. 

“Survivors’ willingness to speak the truth made this report possible,” said Angela Walker, SNAP’s Executive Director, at today’s report launch in Providence. “SNAP stands in solidarity with all Rhode Island survivors, including those who were unable or chose not to participate. This report has been years in the making and proves the tenacity and perseverance of Rhode Island’s survivors who would not remain silent and demanded accountability.”

The Attorney General’s findings confirm what survivors have said for decades: leaders of the Catholic Church in Rhode Island repeatedly endangered their congregations, giving known sex offenders full access to children and the vulnerable and moving them from parish to parish, resulting in a prolonged campaign of preventable sexual violence.  

SNAP strongly condemns church officials who obstructed justice by refusing to be interviewed and by withholding their full cooperation to investigators. Claims that the Church has now “cooperated” with this investigation are highly questionable when investigators were only permitted access to documents curated by the diocese, limited to a self-selected list of priests the Church had already publicly named, while critical evidence of criminal abuse and institutional cover-up was withheld. The Attorney General stated that 10 new names were revealed during their investigation, and four arrests were made.  

SNAP also strongly urges immediate action by the Rhode Island General Assembly to address the unfinished business of justice. Last year, the House passed legislation to open a civil window for adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse to seek accountability from institutions that enabled their abuse. The Senate’s previous refusal to take up this legislation denied survivors their day in court. In light of the Attorney General’s findings, there can be no justification for further delay in the new legislative session. 

SNAP actively believes that survivors, their families, and the people of Rhode Island deserve complete transparency and a full accounting of what happened, who knew and how abuse was allowed to persist. 

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You can find the link here to the press release published today by the Rhode Island State’s Attorney’s Office. 

You can find a link to the presentation delivered today at the press conference by Rhode Island State’s Attorney, Peter Neronha, as well as the full report. 

A dedicated clergy abuse hotline has been set up by the Rhode Island State Police Special Victim’s Unit: 401-764-0142. In their own words at today’s press conference, “It’s never too late” to report.