Diocese Pays Out $3.55 Million in Priest Abuse Lawsuit

RIDGEFIELD, 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.

One plaintiff was allegedly sexually abused by the Rev. Robert Morrissey at St. Mary's Parish in Ridgefield in the 1990s. He resigned in 2002 after two men filed suit claiming the priest abused them at parishes in Stamford and Greenwich in the 1970s and 1980s. Morrissey was removed from ministry in 2004, and died ten years later.

Two other priests, Rev. Larry Jensen and the Rev. Walter Coleman, were alleged to have abused plaintiffs in Bridgeport, Danbury and Brookfield.

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