Father John Crafton

Religious Order: Missionary Society of St. Columban

Ordained: 1940

Status: Accused

Deceased: 1989

Assignment History

1960s: Columbans’ Foreign Mission Society Headquarters (Omaha, NE)
Dates unknown: Columban Seminary (Bristol, RI)
1974-1976: St. Joseph Hospital (Providence, RI)
1982: Auxiliary Chaplain, Little Sisters of the Poor (Pawtucket, RI)

Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Father John Crafton

Father John Crafton was ordained a priest in 1940 and was a member of the Missionary Society of St. Columban, also known as the Columban Fathers. According to BishopAccountability.org, Crafton was publicly identified as credibly accused by the Columbans’ U.S. Province in February 2022, with one allegation of abuse noted as occurring in the 1960s.

Crafton served in the Diocese of Providence in Rhode Island, including at St. Joseph Hospital in Providence from 1974 to 1976 and as an auxiliary chaplain for the Little Sisters of the Poor in Pawtucket in 1982. He was also reportedly associated with the Columban Seminary in Bristol, Rhode Island.

According to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 report, a woman first reported to the Diocese of Providence in June 1994 that Crafton sexually abused her over a period of six or seven years, beginning when she was approximately five years old. The abuse allegedly occurred in the 1960s while Crafton was living at the Columban Seminary in Bristol, Rhode Island.

The complainant reportedly alleged that at least two other priests knew about the abuse and did nothing. According to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s report, the woman later came forward again in 2002 and contacted Bishop Mulvee. She requested lifetime therapy from the Columbans, but the request was reportedly denied.

In 2006, the woman again contacted the Diocese of Providence, which informed the Columbans. According to BishopAccountability.org, the Columbans’ Provincial stated that there had been no investigation and that the order had offered the woman one year of therapy “as an act of charity.”

In 2024, the woman spoke with Rhode Island State Police and reportedly stated that there may have been another victim of Crafton.

Crafton died on January 12, 1989. He was included in the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 report on child sexual abuse in the Diocese of Providence. He was also publicly identified by the Missionary Society of St. Columban as the subject of a credible allegation of child sexual abuse. Based on the available source information, Crafton does not appear to have been included on the Diocese of Providence list of clergy who have been credibly accused of sexual abuse of a minor.

Frequently Asked Questions About Father John Crafton

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 John Crafton listed as credibly accused by the Diocese of Providence?

Based on the available source information, no. Father John Crafton was publicly identified by the Missionary Society of St. Columban on its February 2022 list of clergy with credible allegations of child sexual abuse and was included in the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 report, but he does not appear to be included on the Diocese of Providence list of clergy who have been credibly accused of sexual abuse of a minor.

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 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 John Crafton – Diocese of Providence