Father Richard Meglio

Richard Meglio Catholic Priest Diocese of Providence

Ordained: 1972

Status: Settled

Deceased: No

Assignment History

1971: St. Bernard Church (Wickford/North Kingstown, RI)
1971-1972: St. Mary Church (Cranston, RI)
1972-1973: St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church (Pawtucket, RI)
1973-1980: Our Lady of Grace Church (Johnston, RI)
1980-1983: Sacred Heart Church (West Warwick, RI)
1983: Continuing Education & Spirituality, Diocese of Providence (Providence, RI)
1983-1988: St. Mark Church (Cranston, RI)
1988: Suspended on leave

Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Father Richard Meglio

Father Richard Meglio was ordained a priest in 1972 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, Meglio 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, Meglio was removed from ministry in April 1988 following allegations of misconduct, including allegations that he stole approximately $80,000 from his parish. The Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 report states that Meglio was accused of sexually abusing three boys.

Allegations Against Father Richard Meglio

According to BishopAccountability.org, a man filed a civil lawsuit in 1994 alleging that Meglio sexually abused him as a minor in the 1970s, when Meglio was assigned to Our Lady of Grace Church in Johnston. The alleged abuse reportedly began when the accuser was hospitalized at age 12 and continued after he was released. The plaintiff died in 1997, and the lawsuit later settled with his estate in 2003.

According to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 report, another man reported in 2000 that Meglio sexually abused him in 1977, when he was homeless and 16 years old. The man alleged that Meglio gave him jewelry in exchange for sex.

In 2009, a third man reported that Meglio sexually abused him “hundreds of times” between approximately ages 13 and 16, from 1983 to 1986. According to BishopAccountability.org, the first incident allegedly occurred during a CYO trip while the boy was sleeping. The third accuser died in 2020.

Diocese of Providence Response to Father Richard Meglio Allegations

According to BishopAccountability.org, Meglio was sent to the Servants of the Paraclete treatment center in Jemez Springs, New Mexico, in 1983 for what Bishop Louis Gelineau described as his “excessively worldly lifestyle” and other issues.

Meglio was removed from ministry on April 22, 1988. According to the Diocese of Providence assignment history, he has been suspended on leave since 1988.

Father Richard Meglio’s Later Ministry in Florida

According to BishopAccountability.org, by 2003 Meglio was living in Florida, where he presented himself to the Ecumenical Catholic Church as a Catholic priest. In 2003 and 2004, the Ecumenical Catholic Church contacted the Diocese of Providence and received information about Meglio’s status, including that he was a defendant in a sexual assault case.

In 2005, when it became known that Meglio was actively ministering for the Ecumenical Catholic Church in Florida, the Diocese of Providence again informed the organization of the allegations against Meglio and that his faculties had been revoked in 1988.

In 2014, the Diocese of Providence learned that Meglio had celebrated Mass at a parish in the Diocese of St. Petersburg, Florida. The Diocese of Providence notified the Diocese of St. Petersburg about Meglio’s history and status, and the Diocese of St. Petersburg alerted its pastors.

Meglio 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 Richard Meglio

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 Meglio listed as credibly accused by the Diocese of Providence?

Yes. Father Richard Meglio 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.

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 Meglio – Diocese of Providence