Father John Tormey

John Tormey Catholic Priest Diocese of Providence

Ordained: 1967

Status: Accused

Deceased: No

Assignment History

1967: Our Lady of Fatima Hospital (Providence, RI)
1967-1973: St. Margaret Church (East Providence/Rumford, RI)
1970-1973: St. Mary Academy-Bay View (East Providence, RI)
1973: Sabbatical
1973: Blessed Sacrament Church (Providence, RI)
1973-1974: House of Affirmation, Director of Pastoral Services (Whitinsville/Worcester, MA)
1973-1974: St. Maria Goretti Church, residence (Pawtucket, RI)
1974-1979: St. Francis Xavier Academy, school chaplain (Providence, RI)
1974-1979: St. Joseph Hospital, OLP Unit, residence (Providence, RI)
1979: Resigned from ministry

Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Father John Tormey

Father John Tormey was ordained a priest in 1967 and served in the Diocese of Providence in Rhode Island before resigning from ministry in 1979. He served at several Rhode Island parishes and Catholic institutions, including St. Margaret Church in East Providence, St. Mary Academy-Bay View, St. Francis Xavier Academy, and St. Joseph Hospital.

According to the Diocese of Providence list of credibly accused clergy, Tormey 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, allegations involving Tormey were reported to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office in 2002 and to the Diocese in 2003. Tormey denied the allegations and later filed a defamation lawsuit against the Diocese and Bishop Thomas Tobin.

Allegations Against Father John Tormey

According to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 report, Tormey was accused of sexually abusing two girls, twin sisters, when they were approximately 14 or 15 years old in the late 1960s.

The alleged abuse reportedly occurred over several years while Tormey was assigned to St. Margaret Parish in East Providence. According to BishopAccountability.org, the alleged abuse included Tormey forcing one of the girls to perform oral sex on him.

The women reportedly said they called the Diocese while they were in high school to report the abuse. They said they did not hear back, but that Tormey “disappeared” for a period of time. According to BishopAccountability.org, Tormey took a sabbatical from January 1973 to June 1973 and then began work at the House of Affirmation in Massachusetts.

Diocese of Providence Response to Father John Tormey Allegations

According to BishopAccountability.org, the allegations were reported to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office in 2002 and to the Diocese of Providence in 2003. The women reportedly decided not to press criminal charges because they did not want publicity.

Tormey denied the allegations.

According to media reports, Tormey filed a defamation lawsuit in December 2018 against the Diocese of Providence and Bishop Thomas Tobin after learning that his name would be included on the Diocese’s list.

Father John Tormey and Institutional Failures

Tormey’s case reflects concerns raised in the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 report about delayed reporting, institutional response, and allegations that survivors’ disclosures were not meaningfully addressed when first made.

According to the Attorney General’s report, the alleged victims said they contacted the Diocese while they were in high school but did not receive a response. The women later reported the allegations to the Attorney General’s Office and the Diocese decades later.

Tormey 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 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 John Tormey

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 Tormey listed as credibly accused by the Diocese of Providence?

Yes. Father John Tormey 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 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.

Father John Tormey – Diocese of Providence