Father Adrien Menard
Ordained: 1946
Status: Accused
Deceased: 1976
Assignment History
- 1946-1947: St. Peter Church (Warwick, RI)
- 1947: Sacred Heart Church (Central Falls, RI)
- 1947-1948: St. Lawrence Church (North Providence, RI)
- 1948-1949: St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Church (Burrillville, RI)
- 1949-1960: Sacred Heart Church (Central Falls, RI)
- 1949-1960: Notre Dame High School (Central Falls, RI)
- 1949-1960: Sacred Heart Academy (Central Falls, RI)
- 1960-1971: St. Joseph Church (Woonsocket, RI)
- 1971-1976: St. Joan of Arc Church (Cumberland, RI)
Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Father Adrien Menard
Father Adrien Menard was ordained a priest in 1946 and served in the Diocese of Providence in Rhode Island for approximately three decades. He is one of several Catholic clergy members connected to Rhode Island clergy sexual abuse lawsuits involving the Diocese of Providence.
According to the Diocese of Providence list of credibly accused clergy, Menard has been identified as credibly accused of sexual abuse of a minor. The Diocese list appears to spell his first name as “Adrian.” 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, allegations against Menard were received after his death. The Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 report states that Menard was accused of sexually abusing three or more children, including teenage boys in the 1950s and 1960s and a young girl and her brother in the early 1970s. Menard died on February 1, 1976.
Allegations Against Father Adrien Menard
According to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 report, Menard was accused of sexually abusing two teenage boys in the 1950s and 1960s. One alleged victim was reportedly 13 years old. Another alleged victim reported abuse lasting approximately three years, beginning when he was in sixth grade.
The report also describes allegations involving a 9-year-old girl and her older brother in the early 1970s. According to BishopAccountability.org, the allegations against Menard were received by the Diocese in 2002, 2011, and 2019.
Diocese of Providence Response to Father Adrien Menard Allegations
Menard died in 1976, before the allegations were reportedly received by the Diocese. According to BishopAccountability.org, the Diocese publicly named him as credibly accused on its list in 2019.
The Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 report also discusses Menard in connection with allegations involving Father Albert Desrosiers. According to the report, a woman reported that her son had told her Father Desrosiers sexually abused him as a boy in the early 1960s. The mother reportedly told Father Menard about the abuse while Menard was pastor of St. Joseph Church in Woonsocket. Menard allegedly apologized but took no further action.
Father Adrien Menard and Institutional Failures
Menard’s case reflects two concerns raised in the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 report: allegations that he sexually abused children himself, and allegations that he failed to act after being told about abuse by another priest.
According to the report, Menard served in parishes and Catholic schools throughout Rhode Island, including Sacred Heart Church, Notre Dame High School, and Sacred Heart Academy in Central Falls, as well as St. Joseph Church in Woonsocket and St. Joan of Arc Church in Cumberland.
Menard 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.
Frequently Asked Questions About Father Adrien Menard
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 Adrien Menard listed as credibly accused by the Diocese of Providence?
Yes. Father Adrien Menard was included on the Diocese of Providence list of clergy who have been credibly accused of sexual abuse of a minor in 2019, although the Diocese list appears to spell his first name as “Adrian.” 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 and other clergy connected to the Diocese of Providence in Rhode Island. 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 a priest or clergy member in Rhode Island 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.