Father Richard E. Holden

Richard E. Holden Catholic Priest Diocese of Providence

Ordained: 1964

Status: Accused

Deceased: 1985

Assignment History

1964: St. Mary Star of the Sea Church (Narragansett, RI)
1964-1970: St. Aloysius Church (Woonsocket, RI)
1970-1971: Sacred Heart Church (Pawtucket, RI)
1971-1985: St. Vincent de Paul Church (Coventry, RI)

Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Father Richard E. Holden

Father Richard E. Holden was ordained a priest in 1964 and served in the Diocese of Providence in Rhode Island for approximately 21 years. According to the Diocese of Providence list of credibly accused clergy, Holden has been identified as credibly accused of sexual abuse of a minor. He served at several Rhode Island parishes, including St. Aloysius Church in Woonsocket and St. Vincent de Paul Church in Coventry.

According to BishopAccountability.org, Holden was publicly named by the Diocese of Providence in 2019 as a priest credibly accused of sexual abuse of a minor. The Diocese noted that the allegations against him were received after his death. Holden died on March 23, 1985.

Allegations Against Father Richard E. Holden

According to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 report, Holden was accused of sexually abusing five boys during his ministry in the Diocese of Providence.

One allegation involved Holden reportedly approaching a boy in a sexual manner in the early to mid-1960s while he was assigned to St. Aloysius Church in Woonsocket. The other allegations reportedly involved abuse from approximately 1970 to 1982 while Holden was assigned to St. Vincent de Paul Church in Coventry.

According to BishopAccountability.org, the first documented report to the Diocese was made in 1997, when a man alleged that Holden sexually abused him multiple times in the 1970s while he was a high school student and Holden was assigned to St. Vincent de Paul Church.

In 2010, another man reportedly told the Diocese that Holden sexually abused him at St. Vincent de Paul from approximately 1980 to 1982, beginning when he was 14 years old. The man also reportedly said that he suspected Holden had abused his brother.

Additional Allegations Against Father Richard E. Holden

According to BishopAccountability.org, the Diocese received a third allegation in 2013 from a man who said Holden sexually approached him and some of his friends in the early to mid-1960s while Holden was assigned to St. Aloysius Church in Woonsocket.

In 2019, a fourth allegation reportedly stated that Holden sexually abused a 16-year-old boy in the early 1970s at St. Vincent de Paul Church. In 2020, a fifth man alleged that Holden sexually abused him when he was 16 or 17 years old in 1979.

According to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 report, diocesan officials were not notified of any allegations against Holden until after his death. By the time the allegations were referred to law enforcement, Holden had been dead for decades.

Diocese Records Concerning Father Richard E. Holden

According to BishopAccountability.org and the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 report, diocesan files indicate there may have been concerns about Holden as early as 1967. The report references “unkind rumors” about Holden and another letter stating that he remained at St. Aloysius Church due to “unusual circumstances involved in the matter.”

The report does not explain what those rumors or circumstances involved.

Holden 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 list of credibly accused clergy on child sexual abuse in the Diocese of Providence.

Frequently Asked Questions About Father Richard E. Holden

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 Richard E. Holden listed as credibly accused by the Diocese of Providence?

Yes. Father Richard E. Holden 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 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 Richard E. Holden – Diocese of Providence