Diocese Pays Out $3.55 Million in Priest Abuse Lawsuit

DANBURY, CT — The Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgeport has agreed to pay $3.55 million to five men who claim in lawsuits they were sexually abused as children by priests, the News-Times is reporting.

The Rev. Larry Jensen, former spiritual director of the Diocese of Bridgeport's Emmaus youth ministry program, had been accused by one plaintiff of abuse at St. Anthony Maronite Catholic Church in Danbury. The priest served eight years at St. Anthony's before being transferred to St. Joseph Maronite Catholic Church in Waterville, Maine. Jensen was removed from the priesthood in 2017.

Two other priests, the Rev. Walter Coleman and the Rev. Robert Morrissey, were alleged to have abused plaintiffs in Bridgeport, Brookfield and Ridgefield.

The settlements were reached following mediation with the law firm which represented all five of the plaintiffs.