Diocese of Providence Clergy Abuse Lawsuits
What is the Diocese of Providence Clergy Abuse Crisis?
The Diocese of Providence has spent over 70 years concealing and failing to report the sexual abuse of children within the Diocese. Due to an investigation by the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office that began in 2019, 72 clergy members of the Diocese of Providence have been accused of child sexual abuse through the use of their clerical authority. The Attorney General’s 2026 report shows that more than 300 survivors have stepped forward and alleged sexual abuse at the hands of clergymen in the Diocese. Nigh Goldenberg Raso & Vaughn is actively investigating claims on behalf of survivors seeking justice.
Statute of Limitations in Child Sex Abuse Cases
A statute of limitations is the time frame in which a plaintiff must file an action against a defendant. In cases involving child sexual abuse, the statute of limitations is often expanded or paused to allow a minor survivor to bring an action once they are a certain age in adulthood. This is done to account for the traumatic nature of the abuse and the young age of the abused; someone cannot be expected to bring a claim in a limited timeframe if they themselves cannot fully come to terms with the abuse due to age or trauma. Providing a longer period of time to bring a claim of sexual abuse is strongly favored in the United States because it protects the interests of the survivor.
Rhode Island 2-Year Revival Window (Open Until June 30, 2028)
As of July 1, 2026, Rhode Island passed a monumental law that provides a two-year “revival window” for victims of child sex abuse. The two-year window allows any person who has suffered child sex abuse at any point in their lives to file a claim until June 30, 2028.
The goal of this legislation is to allow victims of child sexual abuse the opportunity to bring a claim within these two years even if their own statute of limitations has ended, prohibiting them from bringing their claim. The new law comes at a time when the Diocese of Providence has been subject to a rigorous investigation into their own clergy sexual abuse dating back to 1950. Victims of the crimes of clergymen within the Diocese have a present opportunity to file their claims in light of the nonrestrictive revival window until June 30, 2028.
What Happens When the Diocese Goes Into Bankruptcy?
As of August 2026, the Diocese of Providence has not filed for bankruptcy. However, it is increasingly common for Catholic Dioceses to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in sexual abuse litigation as a method of initiating settlement. The Diocese has even publicly stated that the new revival window legislation may force the Diocese’s hand in filing for bankruptcy.
Generally, chapter 11 bankruptcy occurs when a business can no longer continue to operate as usual because it owes creditors money. Chapter 11 allows a Diocese to “reorganize” their finances to be able to pay settlement amounts in sexual abuse cases. If this were to happen with the Diocese of Providence, a committee of sexual abuse survivors will be appointed to negotiate with the Diocese regarding settlement amounts.
Who Qualifies to File a Claim?
If you or a loved one survived sexual abuse by a priest, deacon, extern, or religious-order member under the authority of the Diocese of Providence, you may be eligible to file a civil lawsuit.
What Can I Expect If I File?
Filing a lawsuit against a powerful religious institution requires legal strategies designed to expose hidden truths. At Nigh Goldenberg Raso & Vaughn, our process is designed to protect your peace of mind while we fight for justice.
- Confidential Investigation: Your initial consultation is completely private. We evaluate the facts, track the movement of “extern” priests, and cross-reference the Attorney General’s database.
- Holding the Institution Liable: We pursue claims based on negligent hiring, negligent supervision, negligent retention, and failure to warn.
- Contingency Fee Structure: We operate on a contingency fee basis; you owe nothing upfront, and our attorneys are only compensated if they win your case.
Why Choose NGRV?
Nigh Goldenberg Raso & Vaughn, PLLC is a national plaintiffs’ law firm with over 50 years of combined experience representing individuals harmed by powerful corporate and institutional defendants. NGRV has a dedicated team of trauma-informed attorneys that specialize in litigating sexual abuse cases against large institutional and corporate defendants, including founding partner Marlene Goldenberg who has been court-appointed by a federal judge to lead the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee in the Uber Sexual Assault Litigation.
- 50+ Years of Combined Experience: Representing individuals harmed by powerful corporate and institutional defendants nationwide.
- Trauma-Informed Practice: Dedicated attorneys specializing in litigating sexual abuse cases against large institutional and corporate defendants.
- Leadership Experience: Founding partner Marlene Goldenberg was court-appointed by a federal judge to lead the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee in the Uber Sexual Assault Litigation.
- Dedicated Legal Team: Attorneys Marlene Goldenberg, Sam Hoefs, and Zoe Anderson-Miller handle complex sexual abuse litigation involving churches and corporations every day and work closely with survivors to tell their stories and seek accountability.
