Father James Campbell

Religious Order: Missionaries of the Sacred Heart

Ordained: 1972

Status: Convicted; laicized in 2005

Deceased: 2007

Assignment History

1974-1975: M.S.C. Center (Shelby, OH)
1975-1977: St. Joseph Church (West Warwick, RI)
1975-1977: Rhode Island Medical Center (Cranston, RI)
1978-1982: Missionary (Bogotá, Colombia)
1982-1991: St. Therese of Jesus Church (Aurora, IL)
1991-2000: Sacred Heart Monastery (Aurora, IL)
2000-2002: M.S.C. Foreign Missions (Marshall Islands)
2002: Sacred Heart Villa (Center Valley, PA)
Dates unknown: St. Joseph Church (Elgin, IL)

Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Father James Campbell

Father James Campbell was ordained a priest in 1972 as a member of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart. Campbell served in Rhode Island during the 1970s, including at St. Joseph Church in West Warwick and Rhode Island Medical Center in Cranston. According to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s list of credibly accused clergy, Campbell has been identified as credibly accused of child sexual misconduct.

According to BishopAccountability.org, Campbell held a Master of Divinity from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago and a master’s degree in counseling psychology from Loyola University Chicago. He served in several states and countries, including Rhode Island, Ohio, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Colombia, and the Marshall Islands.

According to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 report, Campbell reportedly sexually assaulted a 15-year-old boy on multiple occasions from 1975 to 1976. The alleged abuse reportedly occurred in the rectory of St. Joseph Church in West Warwick, at a hotel in Narragansett, and once in a hotel near Youngstown, Ohio.

In 1994, the complainant reportedly disclosed the alleged abuse in a letter to a reverend at St. Joseph Church. The letter was forwarded to Bishop Louis Gelineau and the Diocese’s Office of Education and Compliance. It does not appear that investigative action was taken at that time or that the matter was referred to law enforcement.

In 2002, after the priest who originally forwarded the complaint sought a follow-up, the Diocese revisited the matter and interviewed the complainant. During that interview, the complainant reportedly stated that he believed Campbell had also abused two brothers around the same period, one of whom had died by suicide.

The Missionaries of the Sacred Heart reportedly told the Diocese of Providence that other complaints had been filed against Campbell while he was serving in Illinois. Campbell was placed on leave by the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart in 2002.

In 2003, Campbell was indicted on sexual abuse charges. In 2004, he was convicted in Massachusetts of offenses involving two teenagers, including one girl. According to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s report, Campbell pleaded guilty to one count of rape, two counts of assault and battery, two counts of delivering alcohol to a minor, and one count of unnatural and lascivious acts.

In 2005, Campbell was sentenced to 90 days in prison and 10 years of supervised probation. He was ordered to register as a sex offender and have no unsupervised contact with children under the age of 16. Campbell was laicized in 2005 and died in 2007.

Campbell was included on the Diocese of Rockford’s list of credibly accused clergy in 2018. In 2019, he was included on the Diocese of Providence list of clergy who have been credibly accused of sexual abuse of a minor. He was also included on the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart USA list of credibly accused clergy, the Illinois Attorney General’s 2023 report, and the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 report on child sexual abuse in the Diocese of Providence.

Frequently Asked Questions About Father James Campbell

Can I sue for sexual abuse by a priest in Rhode Island?

Rhode Island’s new two-year revival window, beginning July 1, 2026, allows survivors of child sexual abuse to file claims that were previously blocked by the statute of limitations. You can bring a claim during this two-year window regardless of how long ago the abuse occurred. Because there is a deadline to file your claim, survivors should speak with an attorney as soon as possible.

How long do I have to sue for sexual abuse in Rhode Island?

Rhode Island’s new law creates a two-year window for certain older child sexual abuse claims beginning July 1, 2026. Claims must be filed by June 30, 2028. Survivors should not wait, because it may be necessary to gather relevant documents, investigate the claim, and determine the appropriate parties to sue.

Can the Diocese of Providence be sued for my sexual abuse by a priest?

Possibly. Survivors may have claims against the Diocese of Providence or another Catholic institution, including parishes and schools, if there is evidence that the institution knew or should have known about the risk of abuse and failed to protect children. Horowitz Law attorneys can review the facts of your case and explain your legal options.

Was Father James Campbell listed as credibly accused by the Diocese of Providence?

Yes. Father James Campbell was included on the Diocese of Providence list of clergy who have been credibly accused of sexual abuse of a minor. He was also included in the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 report on child sexual abuse in the Diocese of Providence.

Rhode Island Clergy Sexual Abuse Lawsuits

Rhode Island’s new law creates a two-year revival window, beginning July 1, 2026, for certain older child sexual abuse claims. Horowitz Law is bringing these lawsuits in Rhode Island and has collected evidence of the Diocese of Providence’s negligence. The revival window allows survivors of clergy sexual abuse to pursue claims that were previously blocked by the statute of limitations. Filing deadlines will apply, so survivors should speak with an attorney as soon as possible.

Horowitz Law Is Here to Help

Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests, religious order members, and other clergy in the Diocese of Providence. If you need a lawyer because you were sexually abused by a priest, religious order member, or clergy member in Rhode Island, contact our office today. Although many years have passed, those abused by Catholic clergy in the Diocese of Providence may have legal options due to Rhode Island’s new two-year revival window for certain child sexual abuse claims, but filing deadlines will apply, so do not delay in reaching out to us.

Father James Campbell – Diocese of Providence