The Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence made national news Monday morning when it released a list of 50 clergy who were credibly accused of sexual abuses while serving in Rhode Island churches. It is not clear when the abuses were alleged, but the accused priests served in Catholic parishes from the 1940s until a few years ago.

The list includes both priests and deacons. The majority are now deceased, though 19 remain alive.

The Diocese conducted its own internal review of its files and published the list on its website: dioceseofprovidence.org. Sixteen of the 50 accused served in East Bay parishes at one time or another during their careers — several of them for one to two decades.

The late Rev. Oscar Ferland served at St. Luke’s Church in Barrington for nearly 20 years, from 1972 to 1991.

The late Rev. William O’Connell served at Holy Ghost Church in Tiverton from 1967 to 1972, and at St. Mary’s Church in Bristol from 1972 to 1985.

The later Rev. Peter Scagnelli served at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel and Roger Williams University in Bristol and St. Mary of the Bay Church in Warren and the East Bay Regional CYO in the mid-1980s.

The late Rev. Louis Diogo served at St. Francis Xavier Church in East Providence from 1957 to 1964, and at St. Elizabeth’s Church in Bristol from 1972 to 1993.

Some of those still living also had lengthy careers in the East Bay.

The Rev. Edmund Micarelli served at St. Alexander’s Church in Warren from 1973 to 1989. He was removed from ministry in 1990.

The Rev. Timothy Gorton served at St. Mary of the Bay in Warren and Roger Williams University from 1993 to 1997. He then went on to serve many years in Warwick and Woonsocket before being removed from ministry in 2012.

See the complete list released by the Diocese here.

The Rev. James Silva served in parishes in Portsmouth, Middletown, East Providence, Tiverton and Bristol, among many other locations, before being removed from ministry in 1993.

The Rev. John Tormey served at St. Margaret Church in Rumford and at St. Mary Academy Bay View from 1967 to 1973, before resigning in 1979.

The Rev. Paul Charland served at Holy Ghost Church in Tiverton from 1986 to 1990, before being removed from ministry in 2011.

Why now?

At the same time it released the list, the Diocese published numerous statements about why it was taking this action, including a Frequently Asked Questions section. Included is this explanation of the “why” aspect:

“Recent national and international attention has brought a new focus to the history of clergy sexual abuse. This has caused enormous pain, anger and confusion. Inquiries were being made about the existence of such cases in the Diocese of Providence, and whether or not, like other dioceses, we would be releasing a list. Continuing our long-standing practice of transparency, Bishop Tobin asked for a thorough review of diocesan files of priests who have served in the Diocese of Providence since 1950 to identify those credibly accused of sexual abuse of a minor. The Diocese is now making the findings of this review public.”

A ‘Commitment to Transparency’

The Diocese also released this statement to the public and parishioners:

“Because the sexual abuse of minors affects the entire Church, all members of the Church share in a common mission to work towards its prevention while bringing the healing presence of Christ to bear wherever possible. In the enactment of our diocesan Child Protection and Outreach Policy, the diocese has a strong and long-standing commitment to utilize every means possible to protect the well-being of all children and young people involved in diocesan schools, parishes and youth programs. As part of the diocese's ongoing commitment to transparency, accountability and the hope of continued healing for the survivors of abuse, the list is being published following a full review. In addition to this review, all pertinent information was also fully considered by the Diocesan Review Board.”