Father Paul E. Desrosiers

Paul E. Desrosiers Catholic Priest Diocese of Providence

Ordained: 1940

Status: Accused

Deceased: 1984

Assignment History

1940-1943: St. Vincent de Paul Church (Coventry, RI)
1943-1946: St. John the Baptist Church (West Warwick, RI)
1946-1951: St. Joseph Church (Woonsocket, RI)
1951-1960: Precious Blood Church (Woonsocket, RI)
1959-1968: Diocesan Tribunal
1960-1973: St. Joseph Church (Woonsocket, RI)
January-August 1973: Leave of Absence
1973-1981: St. John the Baptist Church (West Warwick, RI)
1981: Retired

Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Father Paul E. Desrosiers

Father Paul E. Desrosiers was ordained a priest in 1940 and served in the Diocese of Providence in Rhode Island for more than four decades. According to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s list of credibly accused clergy, Desrosiers has been identified as credibly accused of child sexual misconduct.

According to BishopAccountability.org, Desrosiers served as a parish priest and was a member of the Diocesan Tribunal from 1959 to 1968. He retired in 1981 and died on June 27, 1984, from injuries suffered in a bus crash during a trip to Spain.

Allegations Against Father Paul E. Desrosiers at St. Joseph Church

According to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 report, Desrosiers reportedly sexually abused two boys in the early 1960s while assigned to St. Joseph Church in Woonsocket. The report states that both incidents were allegedly reported to Father Adrien Menard, then an assistant pastor at St. Joseph Church, in the early 1960s and early 1970s. Menard was later also included on the Diocese of Providence list of credibly accused clergy.

The Diocese’s first documented report involving Desrosiers was received in 1995, when a woman reported that her son had recently disclosed abuse by Desrosiers in the early 1960s. According to BishopAccountability.org, the mother had reported concerns to Father Menard shortly after one incident, after her son returned from a trip with Desrosiers upset and lying in a fetal position in the back seat of the family car.

A second complainant reported to the Diocese in 2019 that Desrosiers sexually abused him regularly when he was between the ages of 10 and 13 in the 1960s. The complainant alleged that Desrosiers took him on overnight trips to New York City, Long Island, and a private residence on Hiawatha Lake in Massachusetts. He also reported that Desrosiers sometimes brought other young boys on those trips.

Desrosiers died before the allegations were formally reviewed. His name was included on the Diocese of Providence list of clergy who have been credibly accused of sexual abuse of a minor in 2019, with the Diocese noting that the allegations were received after his death. 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 Paul E. Desrosiers

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 Paul E. Desrosiers listed as credibly accused by the Diocese of Providence?

Yes. Father Paul E. Desrosiers 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 Paul E. Desrosiers – Diocese of Providence