Fr. Armand Ventre

Included 7/1/2019 on the Diocese’s list of credibly accused, which notes that Ventre was removed from ministry 7/5/1985. Included in the 3/4/2026 RI Attorney General’s Report, which shows Ventre to be the subject of allegations of the sexual abuse of six boys and one mentally disabled man. In 8/2008 a man alleged that Ventre sexually abused him for several years, beginning when he was 8 years old in 1973. He received an arbitration award from the Diocese of $50K. In 2007 a man reported that he was sexually abuse by Ventre in 1977, when he was a 13-year-old student at St. Raphael’s Academy in Pawtucket. He said that Ventre might have also abused another family member. Shortly after the alleged abuse, the boy’s Jesuit uncle reported it to the school principal, who notified the Diocese. In 8/1985 Ventre was indicted for sexually molesting two altar boys and one mentally handicapped youth 1981-1984. The boys were ages 10-16 when allegedly abused. In 1986 the judge dismissed the charges concerning the two altar boys; the following day the judge found Ventre not guilty of abuse of the third boy in a non-jury trial. Ventre was sent to South Bend, IN for a “continuing education in spirituality program,” returning to Providence in 1987, assigned to chaplaincies at two hospitals. He was accused the same year of inappropriate behavior with a mentally disabled 24-year-old man who was living in a group home. Ventre would have the young man sleep over at his house, sharing his bed. His mother complained to the Diocese. Ventre was sent in 3/1988 to St. Luke Institute in MD for an evaluation, which determined that there was a high likelihood in the future that he would engage in inappropriate behavior. He was kept in ministry. In 10/1988 a hospital chaplain working with Ventre told Bishop Angell that Ventre was spending excessive amounts of time with and giving gifts to a 14-year-old boy, who was a patient. Ventre was reprimanded yet kept in ministry. A number of Ventre’s alleged victims said the incidents occurred at Ventre’s lake cottage, where he would bathe them after they swam in the lake, to “remove algae.” He would also have them sleep with him and he would wrestle with them. Ventre retired in 1/1999 and died 12/27/1999.