Diocese Pays Out $3.5 Million Sex Abuse Settlement

BRIDGEPORT, CT — The Bridgeport Roman Catholic Diocese has agreed to a $3.55 million settlement with five men who were reportedly sexually abused by priests as children.

Rev. Walter Coleman, Rev. Robert Morrissey and Rev. Larry Jensen are alleged to have committed abuse between the 1980’s and early 2000’s, according to the Stamford Advocate. The victims were represented by Temont, Sheldon, Robinson and Mahoney law firm of Bridgeport.

The Diocese of Bridgeport, Hartford Archdiocese and Diocese of Norwich have released the names of clergy who allegedly abused minors along with information on monetary settlements. Combined the three have paid out more than $110 million in settlements and have named more than 100 priests who are alleged to have sexually abused minors.

Bishop Frank Caggiano has stepped up the diocese’s transparency over settlements that have spanned decades. The diocese had paid out $52.5 million in settlements related to allegations of sexual abuse dating back to 1953 as of October 2018. There were 156 settled claims with an average payment of $337,000. More than 95 percent of settlements were paid after 2000 and the majority of settlements were related to alleged abuse that occurred before 1990.

Related:

• List of accused Bridgeport Diocese priests
• List of accused Hartford Archdiocese priests
• List of accused Norwich Diocese priests

The Bridgeport Diocese also commissioned a full accounting and review of alleged sexual abuse of minors by clergy and the response of church leadership. The investigation is being led by retired Connecticut Superior Court Judge Robert Holzberg and is expected to be released this spring.

Similarly, The Catholic Archdiocese of Hartford gave an accounting of its settlements. There were 142 settled claims involving 29 clergy members and three priests from other dioceses. The total amount of settlements is $50.6 million

The Hartford Archdiocese hired retired state Superior Court Judge Antonio Robaina to conduct an investigation in a similar vein.

The Diocese of Norwich released the names of 43 priests accused of sexual abuse of a minor. That diocese paid out $7.7 million in settlements with victims across nine cases. There are 23 more cases pending.