Fr. Louis Ward Dunn

Monsignor. Held multiple prominent chancery positions. Placed on leave in 1994 after a woman reported to the bishop sexual misconduct toward her by Dunn when she was a minor. Lawsuit filed in 1995. Dunn was criminally tried in 1997 on two separate rape allegations; one was dismissed. He was convicted in the second of sexually assaulting a 21-year-old woman in 6/1982. In 12/1999 Dunn received a 10-year suspended sentence and was ordered to continue to live at St. Antoine Residence in North Smithfield. He died 4/18/2001. At least two other lawsuits were filed. Some claims settled in 2002. One of the original complainants did not settle; she carried her case all the way to the RI Supreme Court, which dismissed it in 2/2008. She appealed unsuccessfully to the U.S. Supreme Court. Dunn’s name was included 7/1/2019 on the Diocese’s list of credibly accused. Included also in the 3/4/2026 RI Attorney General’s Report, which notes that Dunn was accused of the sexual abuse of at least five girls and young women. His modus operandi was to target vulnerable girls under age 18 and into their early 20s, then sexually assaulting them after plying them with alcohol and drugs. The Diocese knew of Dunn’s behavior as early as 1967 when a man complained to the Diocese about his behavior toward girls and young woman at Christ the King Parish in South Kingston. The man’s teenage daughter had allegedly been sexually abused by Dunn. Dunn was transferred to another parish, where his behavior continued. At least one, and possibly two, of Dunn’s victims became pregnant – one baby was given up in 1967 for adoption in California. Dunn reportedly paid for the other girl to have a “medical procedure,” ending the pregnancy.