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New Rhode Island lawsuit directly accuses late Bishop Gelineau of abuse
A newly filed lawsuit names the late Bishop Louis E. Gelineau as an alleged abuser of an altar boy, going beyond prior public accounts of his role in the church’s handling of clergy abuse. The state attorney general’s report had identified Gelineau among church leaders who failed over decades to stop abuse of children.
A newly filed lawsuit directly accuses the late Bishop Louis E. Gelineau of sexually abusing an altar boy, publicly naming him as an alleged abuser for the first time, according to information published Oct. 23, 2026.
Gelineau had previously been named in the Rhode Island attorney general’s report on clergy sexual abuse as one of the Catholic Church leaders who failed over many decades to stop the molestation of children. The new lawsuit makes a separate, direct allegation against him.
The available details do not identify the plaintiff or specify when the alleged abuse occurred. The allegations have not been established in court.