CUMBERLAND (RI)
Valley Breeze [Lincoln, RI]
July 16, 2026
By Sandy Hall, Valley Breeze Senior Staff Writer
In March, Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha published a report identifying 72 clergy members credibly accused of child sexual misconduct in the Diocese of Providence.
The late Fr. Raymond Theroux, who served at St. John Vianney Parish in Cumberland for 28 years, was not on the list – but is now the focus of a renewed effort by victims advocates to get the Catholic diocese to release its “secret archive.”
Attorney Mitchell Garabedian says that a man recently reported to him that he had been sexually abused by Theroux twice in the Cumberland rectory.
Theroux was the brother of former Vicar General Monsignor Paul Theroux, who was a diocesan spokesman on clergy sexual abuse cases from 2005 to 2010. The vicar represented the diocese during mediation of what would ultimately become a $13.5-million settlement of 36 sexual-abuse lawsuits in 2002, according to reports at the time in The Providence Journal.
Now, Garabedian and others are calling for the public release of all of the Providence Diocese’s canon law 489 secret files.
The Code of Canon Law — an internal body of regulations governing the Roman Catholic Church – dictates in canon law 489 that every diocese must maintain a securely locked, immovable secret archive that contains sensitive records of criminal cases concerning matters such as clergy misconduct complaints and personnel issues.
Several states have subpoenaed such diocesan files, including Pennsylvania and New York.
“Since none of this information concerning sexual abuse by Fr. Raymond C. Theroux was in the Attorney General’s report, Bishop Lewandowski should immediately publicly release all of the canon law 489 secret files so that survivors can obtain validation and the truth about what the Diocese of Providence, Bishop Gelineau and former Vicar General Monsignor Paul D. Theroux knew about Fr. Raymond C. Theroux sexually abusing a child,” Garabedian said in a release.
The effort comes following a new state law that went into effect July 1, which establishes a two-year revival window during which victims of childhood sex abuse can file civil lawsuits against perpetrators, including institutions such as the diocese. The law is retroactive up to 35 years, and childhood sex abuse survivors have until June 30, 2028 to take action.
The attorney, who has represented more than 2,000 victims of clergy sexual abuse worldwide according to his office, gained international recognition for exposing the Roman Catholic Church’s systemic cover-ups, and was portrayed by actor Stanley Tucci in the 2016 Academy Award-winning film “Spotlight,” about the Boston Globe’s investigation of the matter.
According to Garabedian, the alleged sexual abuse in Cumberland took place in approximately 1996, when the survivor was about 9 years old.
Robert Hoatson, president of Road to Recovery, Inc., a New Jersey-based nonprofit that assists victims of sexual abuse and their families, took part in a demonstration and press conference on the matter on Sunday, June 28. Hoatson reportedly spoke to parishioners of St. John Vianney on the sidewalk outside the Diamond Hill Road parish on behalf of victim “John Doe” before and after the 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. Masses.
“His recent reporting about sexual abuse by Father Raymond C. Theroux may help to lessen an enormous burden and put him on a path toward wholeness,” Hoatson said in a release of the unidentified victim. “However, he will not be served well by the Diocese of Providence if Bishop Bruce Lewandowski continues to refuse to publicly release the secret files mandated by Canon 489 of Church law.”
“By not releasing all the canon law 489 secret files immediately, Bishop Lewandoski is treating the canon law 489 files like the Epstein files,” said Garabedian in his statement on the matter. “Consequently, survivors are being re-victimized through a cover up.”
Vicar Theroux – who was second in command to the bishop for five years and held a number of prestigious offices and departments in the diocese – worked with attorneys relative to the previous compensation program, and often listened to survivors’ accounts and offered apologies to the victims.
Michael Kieloch, director of communications and public relations, noted that the diocese has not been notified of any allegations or lawsuits involving the late Fr. Theroux.
“I would also point out that he does not appear on the list of credible accused clergy and does not appear anywhere in the Rhode Island Attorney General’s exhaustive report,” said Kieloch. “He was a priest of the Diocese of Providence for 59 years and died a priest in good standing in 2024.”
The diocese did not respond to the question of whether or not it would consider negotiating a release of the canon law 489 files.
Garabedian noted that because Theroux has died, criminal charges cannot be filed against him. He said his client is considering filing a criminal report with the police to create a record, “which will help authorities understand the scope of the clergy sexual abuse crisis and help survivors try to heal.”
Kieloch said that anyone who has been the victim of sexual abuse, or who has credible knowledge of such abuse, by any member of the Catholic Church, should report the allegations to the Rhode Island State Police, local law enforcement, the R.I. Attorney General’s Office, and Lt. Col. Robert A. Creamer, Diocese of Providence director of compliance at 401-941-0760 or rcreamer@dpvd.org.