Fr. Robert A. Carpentier
Removed from ministry in 4/1992 after a man reported that Carpentier sexually abused him at age 13 in 1973-1974, while assigned to Our Lady Queen of Martyrs in Woonsocket. Carpentier admitted to the abuse. He was sent to the Institute of Living in Hartford CT for a month for evaluation. The man filed a civil lawsuit in 10/1992, including his wife and children as plaintiffs. Questions in the case regarding the statute of limitations were referred to the RI Supreme Court, which ruled against the plaintiffs. (See 1996 R.I. Lexis187, 7/11/1996.) Carpentier went on sabbatical at Boston College 1992-1994, and leave of absence 1994-2006. He retired in 2006. Claims against Carpentier were settled in 9/2002 as part of a $13.5M mass settlement involving 36 victims of abuse by clergy in the Providence diocese. Carpentier died 5/9/2012. Included on the Diocese’s 7/1/2019 list of credibly accused. In 2020 a man reported to the Diocese that Carpentier sexually abused him as a young boy during the time Carpentier was assigned to St. Agatha’s in Woonsocket, 1969-1973. Included in the 3/5/2026 RI Attorney General’s Report.
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