Father Louis Diogo

Louis Diogo Catholic Priest Diocese of Providence

Ordained: 1946

Status: Accused; faculties restricted in 2005

Deceased: 2015

Assignment History

1954: Church of Jesus Saviour (Newport, RI)
1954-1957: St. Anthony Church (West Warwick, RI)
1957-1964: St. Francis Xavier Church (East Providence, RI)
1964-1965: Church of Jesus Saviour (Newport, RI)
1965-1972: Our Lady of the Rosary Church (Providence, RI)
1972-1993: St. Elizabeth Church (Bristol, RI)
1993: Retired
2000-2006: St. Francis Xavier Church, Residence (East Providence, RI)
2005: Faculties restricted

Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Father Louis Diogo

Father Louis Diogo was ordained in the Azores in 1946 and arrived in the United States in 1954 to serve in the Diocese of Providence in Rhode Island. According to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s list of credibly accused clergy, Diogo has been identified as credibly accused of child sexual misconduct. He served at several Rhode Island parishes, including St. Francis Xavier Church in East Providence, Our Lady of the Rosary Church in Providence, and St. Elizabeth Church in Bristol.

According to BishopAccountability.org, Diogo retired in 1993 after a woman reported to the Diocese that he had sexually abused her and her sister as children during the 1950s and 1960s. The alleged abuse reportedly began when the complainant was approximately five years old and continued into her teenage years.

Allegations Against Father Louis Diogo at St. Francis Xavier Church

According to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 report, Diogo was accused of sexually abusing four girls during the 1950s and 1960s, while he was assigned to St. Francis Xavier Church in East Providence. The Diocese reportedly received the first complaint against Diogo in February 1993.

The complainant alleged that Diogo sexually abused her and her sister while he was teaching them piano lessons. Diogo denied sexually abusing the complainants, but according to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s report, he reportedly acknowledged that he may have “possibly touched them in ways they are now interpreting badly.”

The Diocese found the complainant credible, but Diogo was not criminally charged because the allegations were outside the statute of limitations. Shortly after the report, Bishop Louis Gelineau arranged for Diogo to retire from St. Elizabeth Church in Bristol. According to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s report, Diogo was appointed pastor emeritus of St. Elizabeth, apparently without restrictions on his ministry.

Later Complaints and Restrictions on Ministry

In 2005, one of Diogo’s alleged victims reported that Diogo had returned to Rhode Island and was publicly celebrating Mass. The Diocese then restricted his faculties and informed him that he could not publicly celebrate Mass or function as a priest.

In March 2006, another woman reported to the Diocese that she and her sister had also been sexually abused by Diogo as children. According to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s report, the Diocese reminded Diogo that his faculties were restricted to private Mass and declined to take further action because he was 85 years old. The report states that it does not appear the Diocese reported either of the 2006 complaints to law enforcement.

Diogo died on April 4, 2015. He 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 in the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 report on child sexual abuse in the Diocese of Providence.

Frequently Asked Questions About Father Louis Diogo

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 Louis Diogo listed as credibly accused by the Diocese of Providence?

Yes. Father Louis Diogo 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 in 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 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.

Father Louis Diogo – Diocese of Providence