Father James W. Jackson

James W. Jackson Catholic Priest Diocese of Providence

Affiliation: Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter / FSSP

Ordained: 1985

Status: Guilty plea / Laicized

Deceased: No

Assignment History

1985: Ordained for the Diocese of Wichita
1993: St. Gregory’s Academy (Elmhurst, PA)
Dates unknown: Diocese of Tulsa (Oklahoma)
Dates unknown: Archdiocese of Denver (Colorado)
Dates unknown: Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church (Littleton, CO)
August 2021-October 2021: St. Mary’s Church (Providence, RI)
January 13, 2025: Laicized

Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Father James W. Jackson

Father James W. Jackson was ordained a priest in 1985 for the Diocese of Wichita and later became affiliated with the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP). He served as a parish priest, teacher, school chaplain, and U.S. Navy chaplain before being assigned to St. Mary’s Church in Providence, Rhode Island, in August 2021.

Jackson 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, Jackson has been identified as credibly accused of sexual abuse of a minor.

According to BishopAccountability.org, Jackson was arrested in October 2021 after investigators linked an internet connection from the St. Mary’s Church rectory to the sharing of child sexual abuse material. Jackson later pleaded guilty in federal court to receipt of child pornography. He was laicized by the Vatican on January 13, 2025.

Criminal Investigation of Father James W. Jackson at St. Mary’s Church

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Rhode Island, the investigation began in September 2021 when a detective assigned to the Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force identified an IP address assigned to the St. Mary’s Church rectory being used to share child sexual abuse material.

A court-authorized search of a computer and digital devices located in Jackson’s rectory bedroom found images and videos of child sexual abuse. A forensic review later identified more than 12,000 images and 1,300 videos of child pornography.

Jackson was arrested on October 30, 2021. A federal criminal complaint followed in November 2021, charging him with offenses related to accessing, distributing, and possessing child pornography. He initially pleaded not guilty and was released to live with a relative in Kansas while awaiting trial.

Additional Child Pornography Investigation in Kansas

According to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 report, Jackson was later arrested again after investigators in Kansas reportedly discovered evidence that he had downloaded child pornography while on pretrial release.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, investigators seized a portable computer and external hard drive from Jackson’s bedroom in Kansas. A review of the storage device reportedly showed that numerous files with names indicating child sexual abuse material had been deleted.

Jackson was returned to Rhode Island and ordered detained while awaiting trial.

Guilty Plea and Sentencing of Father James W. Jackson

On June 8, 2023, Jackson pleaded guilty in federal court to receipt of child pornography.

On December 13, 2023, U.S. District Judge William E. Smith sentenced Jackson to 72 months in federal prison, followed by five years of federal supervised release. The court also imposed required federal assessments and indicated that restitution would be ordered for specific victims.

According to federal prosecutors, the child sexual abuse material recovered from Jackson’s devices involved numerous victims. Jackson remains incarcerated in federal prison as of the publication of the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 report.

Diocese of Providence Response to Father James W. Jackson

According to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 report, Bishop Thomas Tobin granted Jackson faculties to serve in the Diocese of Providence effective August 1, 2021, after the North American Provincial of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter attested to Jackson’s good moral character and stated that he was unaware of anything that would limit or disqualify Jackson from ministry or work with children.

After Jackson’s arrest, Bishop Tobin revoked his faculties, prohibited him from residing at the rectory or exercising public ministry, and later accepted his resignation from St. Mary’s Church.

Jackson was added to the Diocese of Providence list of clergy who have been credibly accused of sexual abuse of a minor in 2022 following his arrest. He was also included in 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 James W. Jackson

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 W. Jackson listed as credibly accused by the Diocese of Providence?

Yes. Father James W. Jackson was added to the Diocese of Providence list of clergy who have been credibly accused of sexual abuse of a minor in 2022. He was also included in Appendix A of 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 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.

Father James W. Jackson – Diocese of Providence