Catholic dioceses all across the country have been embroiled in the ongoing Catholic sexual abuse scandal, with hundreds of priests implicated in child sex abuse allegations. Some have created victim compensation funds, some have denied allegations, and some have even filed for bankruptcy.

In October 2019, the Diocese of Bridgeport released a report on hundreds of sex abuse claims within the diocese, blaming the former archbishop for mishandling claims and violating state law. The Archdiocese of Hartford has also released a list of accused priests.

Diocese of Bridgeport Sexual Abuse Allegations Overview

The Diocese of Bridgeport in Connecticut recently released a list of dozens of priests with credible abuse claims against them. The Connecticut priest abuse list covers those in the Diocese of Bridgeport, and does not include those in Connecticut’s other Catholic diocese, the Diocese of Norwich.

The purpose of the report was not only to expose priests with credible accusations leveled against them, but also to cover what effects the abuse has had on survivors. “The abuse ranged from lewd behavior in front of victims to violent assaults,” the report says. “It had many profound effects on the victims over and above the sexual abuse itself, including long-term mental health problems, fear of retaliation after the fact and estrangement from their families and from their religious faith.”

According to the report released by the Diocese of Bridgeport, approximately one third of the abuse allegations came from boys between 11 and 14, and the highest rate of abuse cases reportedly occurred in the 1970s. Along with the name of each credibly accused priest, the report includes information on their Connecticut assignments and what years those assignments were held, their clerical status, the number of victims, the victim age range, the dates of abuse, and descriptions of the abuse allegations.

The report, which was compiled by Superior Court Judge Robert Holzberg, also targeted former Archbishop Edward Egan and former bishop Walter Curtis with scathing criticism, alleging that these men violated state law. Indeed, the report claims that both Egan and Curtis actively destroyed records and either completely ignored claims or inadequately responded to them.

The report concluded Egan was “profoundly unsympathetic, inadequate and openly inflammatory.” His primary goal was not the well being of sexual abuse survivors, but rather, “preserving the assets and reputation of the diocese.”

Moreover, instead of removing abusers or even so much as disciplining them for abuse allegations, Holzberg said that Egan made “disturbing” decisions to promote abusers—including some of the most extreme abusers. According to the report, Egan promoted five of the nine priests accused of the most sexual assaults.

Who Are the Connecticut Priests Accused of Abuse?

The Connecticut priest abuse list included the names of 71 priests that allegedly abused minors. The abuse allegations date back to the 1950s.

The report also included a shorter list of priests who were not included on the list of credible accusations, but that had paid a settlement. So far, more than $56 million has been paid to victims in these settlement agreements.

The report found 281 victims that had allegedly been abused by 71 Catholic priests within the Diocese of Bridgeport. This comes to approximately 5% of the priests that have served in the diocese.

“The priests who committed these ghastly acts engaged in criminal acts,” Holzberg said at a press conference. While there were dozens of priests included on the Connecticut priest abuse list, just ten of them made up a whopping 61% of the abuse allegations.

What Are the Connecticut Sexual Abuse Statistics?

In Connecticut, one in every two women and one in five men have experienced sexual violence besides rape in their lifetimes. While stories of rape and sexual assault often reference a shadowy stranger in an alleyway, the vast majority of victims in Connecticut—approximately 77%—know their perpetrators personally.

The consequences of sexual abuse are vast, and can last a lifetime. Those who suffer from sexual violence are twice as likely to experience poor physical health and twice as likely to experience poor mental health.

What Are the Connecticut Sexual Abuse Laws?

Connecticut laws on sexual abuse, like many across the country, have been updated in recent years to better protect survivors.

In 2014, Connecticut added sexual abuse curriculum known as Erin’s Law to educate children about assault and abuse.

In mid 2019, Connecticut lawmakers passed a bill addressing harassment in the workplaces, as well as the prosecution of rape. While the bill does not include claims outside of the statute of limitations, it did expand the time a survivor has to pursue either damages in civil court or justice in criminal court.

Changes are still being made. Connecticut law currently requires that child sex abuse survivors must file legal claims, if any, against their abusers before they turn 51 years old. However, the average age for disclosing child sex abuse is 52 years old, according to CHILD USA.

There is also a bill in the works that would completely eliminate the statute of limitations for civil sexual assault cases. This bill would allow survivors to hold their abusers accountable at any time they are able to come forward.

How Has the Diocese of Bridgeport Responded to the Child Sexual Abuse Allegations?

Historically, the Diocese of Bridgeport—under the leadership of Egan and Curtis in particular—has responded to allegations of child sex abuse inadequately, as indicated by this report.

“Until the early 2000s, the collective response of diocesan officials to the sexual abuse crisis was inadequate in nearly every way,” the report says, “but the single gravest moral and legal lapse was the consistent practice of Bishops Lawrence Shehan, Walter Curtis, and Edward Egan — over four decades — of leaving abusive priests in service, and thereby making it possible for them to continue committing abusive acts.”

Now, however, the diocese actively hired Holzberg to conduct this comprehensive review, and has been cooperating with the investigation. But some victims group argue that this report isn’t enough, noting that many of the priests named in the report are now well-known pedophiles, and that Egan’s inadequate response to abuse claims during his tenure indicate that a grand jury needs to be called for a more in-depth accounting of abuse. Indeed, the report itself even admits that “it is likely that there are more victims and clergy abusers than we have identified.” This is partially due to inadequate record-keeping as well as the destruction of records regarding child sexual abuse.

Moreover, Egan and other church leaders included in the report who ignored claims also held high level positions in other dioceses, which experts say likely means that other survivors have been harmed by their inadequate response as well.

Filing a Child Sexual Assault Lawsuit

If you have suffered from childhood sexual abuse at the hands of a clergy member in the Diocese of Bridgeport or elsewhere, even if that abuse happened years or even decades ago, you may be able to file a lawsuit and pursue compensation.

Of course, filing a lawsuit cannot take away the pain and suffering caused by childhood sexual abuse, but it can at least provide some kind of compensation, as well as help to hold those responsible accountable for their actions and inactions.

Filing a lawsuit can be a daunting prospect, so Top Class Actions has laid the groundwork for you by connecting you with an experienced attorney. Consulting an attorney can help you determine if you have a claim, navigate the complexities of litigation, and maximize your potential compensation.

This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.