Fr. John N. Petrocelli
Removed from ministry 8/22/2002. Accused in a lawsuit of sexually abusing a boy in the late 1980s. The court denied the Diocese’s Motion to Dismiss Negligence Claims on 9/20/2007. Claim settled in 8/2008 as part of a $1.326M settlement by the Diocese. Included on the Diocese’s list 7/1/2019. In 10/2020 a lawsuit against the diocese by a man alleging abuse as a boy by Petrocelli was dismissed, the judge ruling that church leadership cannot be labeled “perpetrators.” The RI Supreme Court affirmed the ruling in 6/2023. Petrocelli was indicted 11/2/2020 by a statewide grand jury on charges of the abuse of three young boys, occurring 11/1981-10/1990 while assigned to Holy Family in Woonsocket. He pleaded not guilty. Trial scheduled for 10/2026.
- Ruling Denying Motion to Dismiss in Young v Gelineau, CA: No PC/03-1302
- Providence Journal 07.18.05
- Young v Gelineau, Petition for Writ of Certiorari 01.09.07
- Rhode Island Lawyers Weekly 05.21.07
- WPRI 06.18.07
- Providence Journal 06.18.07
- Rhode Island Lawyers Weekly 10.01.07
- Boston Globe 10.20.07
- Providence Journal 08.31.08
- Diocese of Providence List 07.01.19
- Providence Journal 10.16.20
- Rhode Island Attorney General 11.05.20
- Patch 11.05.20
- WJAR 11.05.20
- WPRI 11.05.20
- WJAR 11.06.20
- Valley Breeze 11.11.20
- Courthouse News Service 07.03.23
- Boston Globe 07.06.23
- Rhode Island Lawyers Weekly 07.28.23
- Providence Journal 05.27.25
- Boston Globe 10.16.25
- Premier Christian News 07.01.26
Assignments:
Documents:
Sources:
Return to main database page. See abbreviations and posting policy. Send corrections.
Our Database of Publicly Accused does not state or imply that individuals facing allegations are guilty of a crime or liable for civil claims. The reports contained in the database are merely allegations. The U.S. legal system presumes that a person accused of or charged with a crime is innocent until proven guilty. Similarly, individuals who may be defendants in civil actions are presumed not to be liable for such claims unless a plaintiff proves otherwise. Admissions of guilt or liability are not typically a part of civil or private settlements. For more information, see our posting policy.