PROVIDENCE (RI)
WPRI-TV, CBS-12 [Providence RI]
October 21, 2026
By Sarah Bawden
For the first time, a 56-year-old man has detailed in writing the abuse he allegedly suffered at the hands of three Rhode Island priests, including former Roman Catholic Bishop of Providence Louis Gelineau, while serving as an altar boy at a Barrington parish.
The victim, who was 10 years old when he first became an altar boy at St. Luke’s Parish, filed a lawsuit against the church and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence last week.
The lawsuit explains that the victim’s decision to become an altar boy at the parish in 1982 was “a point of pride” in his family, who were devout Irish Catholics.SEE ALSO: Clergy sex abuse lawsuit filed against the Diocese of Providence
It wasn’t long before Father Oscar Ferland took a special interest in him, per the lawsuit.
“This began years of sexual abuse that continued through approximately 1987,” the lawsuit states.
The lawsuit reveals that, before and after Mass, Ferland would often take the victim to the “sacristy or the rectory where he would sexually abuse [him].”
The “deviant and sexually abusive behavior” happened numerous times in several different locations, including the basement of St. Luke’s Parish, the sacristy and the rectory,” according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit states the abuse went “beyond the local parish” when Gelineau, who passed away in 2024, joined Ferland in sexually assaulting the victim in the St. Luke’s rectory.
The victim was between the ages of 12 and 13 at the time Gelineau visited the parish. The lawsuit notes that Ferland asked the victim to give Gelineau a tour of the rectory, “beginning in [his] bedroom.”
“As they walked up the stairs, Bishop Gelineau picked up a jar of Vaseline sitting on the small table outside Ferland’s room,” the lawsuit explains. “Once in the bedroom, Bishop Gelineau violently sexually assaulted and sodomized [the victim].”
Gelineau also sexually assaulted the victim during another visit to St. Luke’s about a year later, according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit accuses Father Clifford Cabral of sexually abusing him and other young altar boys while on certain rides at Rocky Point Amusement Park as well.RELATED: New RI law extends revival window for clergy sex abuse lawsuits
Specifically, the lawsuit states Cabral and Ferland would take the children on rides at the amusement park “that had significant portions or areas that were dark.”
Cabral would then use “the cover of darkness” to molest the children who were with him on the ride, the lawsuit continues.
Like Gelineau, Ferland and Cabral have since passed away.
This comes four months after a new state law designed to deliver accountability for clergy sex abuse survivors went into effect.
The law, which was signed by Gov. Dan McKee over the summer, establishes a two-year revival window in which victims of childhood sex abuse can file civil lawsuits against the perpetrators, including institutions such as the diocese.
The revival window officially began July 1 and is retroactive up to 35 years. Childhood sex abuse survivors have until June 30, 2028, to take legal action.
The revival window officially began July 1 and is retroactive up to 35 years. Childhood sex abuse survivors have until June 30, 2028, to take legal action.
The legislation was introduced after Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha released a sweeping report on clergy sex abuse earlier this year. The 370-page report identified 72 “credibly accused” priests dating back to 1950.
Though Ferland is among the “credibly accused” priests from the report, Gelineau and Cabral are not.
But the lawsuit claims the diocese should have known Gelineau was a danger to children.
Gelineau, who became the sixth bishop of Providence in 1971, regularly visited local parishes within the diocese. The lawsuit states Gelineau “paid special attention to the altar boys” during these visits.MORE: Neronha’s report details generations of clergy abuse in RI
The lawsuit also asserts that the diocese should have also known Ferland was abusing children at the parish, since the credible accusations against him date back to 1964.
“Ferland was accused of sexually abusing at least four young girls and one boy across four decades of active ministry,” the lawsuit explains, adding that Ferland “openly engaged in red-flag behaviors that did or should have raised concerns” during his time at St. Luke’s.
The lawsuit claims the diocese “took no action” against Ferland after a young girl’s father reported his concerning behaviors to another priest at the parish who worked alongside him.
“It was no secret that Ferland lavished attention on minors,” the lawsuit continues.
The lawsuit accuses the diocese and parish of negligence for not protecting the victim from a “known or potential danger” and failing to provide safe premises.
“[The diocese] had ample notice and opportunity to protect the children entrusted to their care … from harassment, sexual abuse, and battery,” the lawsuit adds.
The victim, who the lawsuit states has “suffered severe and lasting injuries” from the years of abuse, is seeking compensatory damages and a trial by jury.
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of the victim by Grant & Eisenhofer, which has been working with several clergy sex abuse survivors who are taking legal action against the diocese throughout the revival window.
The unidentified victim told The Boston Globe Wednesday that he waited decades to come forward because he thought no one would believe him.
“Who’s going to believe a 13-year-old?” he said. “Or, are they going to believe the esteemed ‘Pope of Rhode Island?’”
The victim said Ferland often fed him excuses to justify the abuse.
“He would usually say to me he was helping me discover who I was as a person,” he recalled. “It completely destroyed my psyche.”
Patrick Wall, a clergy sex abuse survivor advocate with Grant & Eisenhofer, told 12 News the victim decided to come forward to ensure someone was held accountable.
“The true shepherd was actually a wolf in the shepherd’s clothing,” Wall said.
Steve Kelly, the attorney representing the victim, explained that the victim’s real goal is “some kind of reconciliation.”
“That can only happen if there’s complete transparency,” Kelly said.
“The incredible pain and the incredible weight that this poor guy has carried throughout the years rang very true to me, of the 3,000-plus survivors I have interviewed over the years,” Wall added.
In a statement to 12 News, the diocese acknowledged that survivors’ accounts of clergy sex abuse “stir emotions and anguish” and remind everyone of the real pain the victims experienced.
“Claims like those recently asserted, on average from 50 years ago, present many challenges for courts and litigants including lost evidence, unavailable witnesses, altered memories and the opportunity for spurious claims to enter the court system,” the diocese explained. “Allegations contained in filed complaints are now in active litigation, and diocesan responses will be confined to that forum.”
The diocese has repeatedly expressed concern about the law that’s allowing these lawsuits to move forward, claiming that other states that have implemented similar laws have forced dozens of religious institutions into bankruptcy.
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