Recently, a young man reported that he had been sexually abused twice in the rectory of St. John Vianney Parish in approximately 1996 by Father Raymond C. Theroux when the minor child was approximately 9 years old.
What
A demonstration and press conference on the sidewalk outside St. John Vianney Parish by childhood sexual abuse victims’ advocate Dr. Robert M. Hoatson, President of Road to Recovery, Inc., a non-profit charity that assists victims of sexual abuse and their families. Dr. Hoatson will inform the parishioners of St. John Vianney Parish and the public about the allegation of childhood sexual abuse by John Doe who will not be present.
When
Sunday, June 28, 2026 before and after the 8:00 am and 10:00 am Masses
Where
On the public sidewalk outside St. John Vianney Church at 3587 Diamond Hill Road, Cumberland, Rhode Island, 02864
Why and Who
John Doe courageously confronted the childhood sexual abuse by Father Raymond C. Theroux by disclosing a secret he held for years. His recent reporting about sexual abuse by Father Raymond C. Theroux may help to lessen an enormous burden and put him on a path toward wholeness. However, he will not be served well by the Diocese of Providence if Bishop Bruce Lewandowski continues to refuse to publicly release the secret files mandated by Canon 489 of Church law.
Father Raymond C. Theroux is the brother of Monsignor Paul D. Theroux who served as Vicar General (second in command to the Bishop) for five years and held a number of prestigious offices and departments in the Diocese of Providence, including as the director of clergy sexual abuse cases in which he worked with attorneys during a previous compensation program of the diocese. He also met with many childhood sexual abuse victims and offered them apologies.
Since the latest information about Father Raymond C. Theroux was not part of the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Report, Bishop Lewandowski must immediately publicly release the secret files of the Diocese of Providence to answer such questions as: did the Diocese know about Father Raymond C. Theroux and, if so, what was done about it? And, what did Bishop Louis E. Gelineau and Monsignor Paul D. Theroux know about Father Raymond C. Theroux? Only the release of secret files publicly will give John Doe and others the validation they need to truly heal.
Contact
Attorney Mitchell Garabedian, (617-523-6250 – Office); (617-388-5252 – Cell)
(Portrayed by actor Stanley Tucci in the 2016 Academy Award-winning Best Picture “Spotlight”)
