Deacon Edward Sadowski, Jr.
Ordained: 1977
Status: Convicted
Deceased: No
Assignment History
- 1977-1980: SS. John & Paul Church (Coventry, RI)
- 1980-1984: St. Joseph Church (Hope Valley, RI)
- 1981-1983: Shady Acres Rest Home (Coventry, RI)
- 1983-1985: Leave of absence
- 1985-1991: Nursing Home Ministry (Coventry, RI)
- 1991-2001: St. Vincent de Paul Church (Coventry, RI)
- 2001: Suspended on leave
Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Deacon Edward Sadowski, Jr.
Deacon Edward Sadowski, Jr. was ordained for the permanent diaconate in 1977 and served in the Diocese of Providence in Rhode Island. He was assigned to parish and nursing home ministry in Coventry and Hope Valley before being suspended in 2001.
According to the Diocese of Providence list of credibly accused clergy, Sadowski has been identified as credibly accused of sexual abuse of a minor. He was also included on the Rhode Island Attorney General’s list of credibly accused clergy in Appendix A of the Attorney General’s 2026 report on child sexual abuse in the Diocese of Providence.
According to BishopAccountability.org, Sadowski was arrested in Massachusetts in 2001 after arranging over the internet to meet someone he believed was a 14-year-old girl, who was actually an undercover Massachusetts State Trooper. Sadowski was later convicted in multiple criminal cases involving child pornography and internet solicitation.
Criminal Case Against Deacon Edward Sadowski, Jr.
According to BishopAccountability.org, Sadowski was arrested in July 2001 after arranging to meet a person he believed was a 14-year-old girl at a Massachusetts motel. The person was an undercover Massachusetts State Trooper. Sadowski reportedly wanted sex and to take pornographic photographs of the girl, and he had sent nude photographs of himself.
The Diocese of Providence immediately placed Sadowski on leave. Rhode Island State Police searched Sadowski’s home that same month, and he was arrested for possession of child pornography.
In January 2002, Sadowski pleaded guilty to the Massachusetts charges and was sentenced to two years in prison and five years of probation. According to BishopAccountability.org, he later pleaded no contest to Rhode Island charges and was sentenced to five years in prison, with two years to serve concurrently with the Massachusetts sentence and three years suspended.
Later Criminal Charges Against Deacon Edward Sadowski, Jr.
According to BishopAccountability.org, Sadowski was arrested again in Rhode Island in December 2009 for internet solicitation and child pornography.
According to media reports, Rhode Island State Police arrested Sadowski after he allegedly transmitted child pornography online and attempted to solicit sex from a Virginia undercover police officer posing as a 13-year-old girl. Police reportedly found numerous pornographic images of children on his computer.
Sadowski was convicted in Virginia in July 2010 and sentenced to 17 years in prison. According to BishopAccountability.org, he was released from prison in March 2022 and returned to Rhode Island. In September 2022, he pleaded no contest again in Massachusetts for possession of child pornography and received a five-year suspended sentence with probation.
Diocese of Providence Response to Deacon Edward Sadowski, Jr.
According to BishopAccountability.org, the Diocese of Providence placed Sadowski on leave immediately after his 2001 arrest. His case was also referred to the Vatican.
Sadowski was included on the Diocese of Providence list of clergy who have been credibly accused of sexual abuse of a minor in 2019. He was also included on the Rhode Island Attorney General’s list of credibly accused clergy in Appendix A of the Attorney General’s 2026 report on child sexual abuse in the Diocese of Providence.
Deacon Edward Sadowski, Jr. and Institutional Failures
Sadowski’s case reflects concerns raised in the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 report about clergy and church personnel who had access to children and vulnerable people through parish, school, or institutional roles.
According to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s list of credibly accused clergy Sadowski served in parish assignments, nursing home ministry, and rest home ministry before being suspended in 2001. His criminal history involved internet solicitation and child pornography offenses.
Frequently Asked Questions About Deacon Edward Sadowski, Jr.
Can I sue for sexual abuse by a deacon 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 deacon?
Possibly. Survivors may have claims against the Diocese of Providence, a Catholic school, a parish, or another Catholic institution 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 Deacon Edward Sadowski, Jr. listed as credibly accused by the Diocese of Providence?
Yes. Deacon Edward Sadowski, Jr. was included on the Diocese of Providence list of clergy who have been credibly accused of sexual abuse of a minor in 2019. He was also included on the Rhode Island Attorney General’s list of credibly accused clergy in Appendix A of the 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, deacons, and other clergy in the Diocese of Providence. If you need a lawyer because you were sexually abused by a priest 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.
Contact us at 888-283-9922 or email sexual abuse lawyer Adam Horowitz for a free consultation.