Father Paul Henry Leech

Paul Henry Leech Catholic Priest Diocese of Providence

Also Known As: P. Henry Leech

Ordained: 1980

Status: Guilty Plea

Deceased: No

Assignment History

1979-1980: St. Philip Church (Greenville, RI)
1980-1983: St. Joseph Church (Woonsocket, RI)
1983-1984: St. Jude Church (Lincoln, RI)
1984: Suspended on leave

Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Father Paul Henry Leech

Father Paul Henry Leech was ordained a priest in 1980 and served in the Diocese of Providence in Rhode Island. He 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, Leech has been identified as credibly accused of sexual abuse of a minor. He served at St. Philip Church in Greenville, St. Joseph Church in Woonsocket, and St. Jude Church in Lincoln before being removed from ministry in 1984.

According to BishopAccountability.org, Leech pleaded no contest in 1985 to eight counts involving the sexual assault of four boys between the ages of 10 and 16.

Criminal Case Against Father Paul Henry Leech

According to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 report, Leech was suspended in 1984 and later pleaded no contest to criminal charges involving the sexual assault of minors.

According to BishopAccountability.org, Leech was removed from ministry on May 4, 1984, and sent to the House of Affirmation in Massachusetts. He was later arrested.

In August 1985, Leech pleaded no contest to eight counts involving the sexual assault of four boys between 1979 and 1984. According to The New York Times, the charges included second-degree sexual assault, third-degree sexual assault, sodomy, and assault and battery.

Leech was initially sentenced in October 1985 to 86 years in prison. According to BishopAccountability.org, after a plea for leniency, he was sentenced to three years in prison and 12 years of probation.

Civil Lawsuits and Additional Allegations Against Father Paul Henry Leech

According to BishopAccountability.org, a civil lawsuit was filed in 1994 on behalf of one youth. The lawsuit reportedly alleged that, before 1980, Leech was known to the bishop to have a habit of making advances toward young boys.

In 2014, a man reported to the Diocese that Leech sexually abused him on one occasion between 1979 and 1980. In July 2020, the Diocese received another report that Leech sexually abused a boy in the summer of 1984. According to BishopAccountability.org, neither case could be prosecuted because of the statute of limitations.

Leech 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 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 Paul Henry Leech

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 Henry Leech listed as credibly accused by the Diocese of Providence?

Yes. Father Paul Henry Leech 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 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 Paul Henry Leech – Diocese of Providence