PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Five men who grew up together in Pawtucket’s Prospect Heights neighborhood and served as altar boys have filed a civil suit against the Roman Catholic Church in Rhode Island, alleging they were sexually abused as children by a priest in the 1970s.
Allegations reach back more than 50 years
The men allege that the priest, identified in court filings as Father Armand Ventre, invited them to his lakeside cottage in Glocester, where the abuse occurred. According to records provided to reporters, church officials later classified Ventre as credibly accused, and diocesan files indicate leaders were aware he posed a danger to children during a ministry career that spanned roughly four decades.
Ventre died in 1999. The plaintiffs say they kept the allegations secret for more than half a century and only recently discussed the abuse with one another after reviewing a report from Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha.
New legal window leads to fresh claims
The wave of lawsuits comes after Rhode Island lawmakers expanded survivors’ ability to pursue civil claims under a new law that reopened the statute of limitations for historical child sexual abuse cases. Legal advocates and reporters have documented dozens of filings against institutions across the state since the legislation took effect, and this suit adds to that growing tally.
The five men — described in reporting as friends and brothers — say the harm they endured has had enduring effects on their lives. One of the plaintiffs told reporters the experience continues to resonate and urged other survivors to come forward so that similar abuse can be prevented.
- Alleged abuser: Father Armand Ventre (died 1999)
- Location of alleged incidents: Prospect Heights, Pawtucket; lakeside cottage in Glocester
- Timeframe: 1970s; abuses not reported at the time
Diocesan records and the Attorney General’s report
Reporting in the Boston Globe and television coverage by WPRI indicate diocesan records documented concerns about Ventre’s conduct during his long tenure. Despite those records, the priest remained in ministry, according to the documentation made public in recent months.
The plaintiffs say their decision to file suit followed public attention brought by the Attorney General’s inquiry into clergy sexual abuse, which compiled evidence and identified clergy members with credible accusations. That report, which has prompted additional scrutiny of church practices and personnel decisions, appears to have given the men the confidence to pursue legal action.
Impact and next steps
The lawsuit seeks to hold the church accountable for actions its critics say allowed abusive priests to remain in positions where they could harm children. Attorneys representing abuse survivors around the state have said the new law is generating a backlog of cases as former victims present claims that were previously time-barred.
At this stage, court filings outline the allegations; the Diocese of Providence has not publicly released a detailed response to the suit. Legal proceedings in cases of this nature can include motions to dismiss, discovery on diocesan personnel files, and eventual negotiation or trial.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1970s | Alleged abuse of the five plaintiffs while serving as altar boys |
| 1999 | Father Armand Ventre died |
| 2020s | Attorney General report and expansion of civil claims window; plaintiffs file suit |
Survivors’ advocates emphasize that cases like this are not only about restitution for past harms but also about systemic reforms to prevent future abuse. They call for greater transparency about how allegations were handled and for institutional changes to protect children.
For the five plaintiffs from Prospect Heights, the suit represents a long-suppressed chapter being brought into public view. Legal experts say such suits may prompt depositions and searches of diocesan personnel records that could yield additional revelations about how church leaders responded to allegations in previous decades.
The case joins a series of recent actions against religious and other institutions in Rhode Island after the state altered the statute of limitations to allow more survivors to pursue civil remedies. As those cases move through state courts, they will likely shape public discussion about accountability, transparency and the support available to survivors of childhood sexual abuse.
Reporting for this story relied on court filings and recent investigative reporting. Further developments, including official statements from the Diocese of Providence or responses from legal counsel, will be reported as they become available.
