Sexual abuse scandal in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgeport

The sexual abuse scandal in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgeport is a significant episode in the series of Catholic sex abuse cases in the United States. It involves numerous allegations of sexual abuse against priests within the Diocese, with accusations dating back to 1953.

Key events include a series of lawsuits that led to landmark court decisions compelling the release of confidential documents, and a 2019 judicial investigation commissioned by the Diocese. In 2009, decisions by the Supreme Court of Connecticut and the U.S. Supreme Court compelled the Diocese to release thousands of previously sealed legal documents related to the lawsuits [1][2][3].

In 2019, an independent judicial report accused 71 priests of sexually abusing approximately 300 children since 1953 [4]. The report also severely criticized the handling of the crisis by the Diocese’s three consecutive bishops over four decades, particularly former Bishop Edward Egan, who was characterized as having a "dismissive, uncaring, and at times threatening attitude toward survivors" [4][5].

Supreme Court of Connecticut decision

In May 2009, a decision by the Connecticut Supreme Court ordered the release of thousands of legal documents from lawsuits filed against priests accused of sexually abusing children (George L. Rosado et al. v. Bridgeport Roman Catholic Diocesan Corporation et al., (SC 17807).[1]PDF document

Archbishop Egan's legacy

In 1993, during Edward Egan's time as Bishop of Bridgeport (1988–2000), 23 lawsuits alleging sexual abuse by priests were filed against the Diocese.[6] Five priests were removed from the ministry during his tenure,[6] and two, Kherian Ahearn and John Castaldo, were convicted on sex abuse charges in 1993 and 2001, respectively. However, many priests credibly accused of abuse during this period died without facing prosecution.[7]

The 23 lawsuits filed during Egan's leadership were settled in 2001, one year after he was appointed Archbishop of New York. [6][8] In April 2002, Cardinal Egan publicly apologized in a letter read out at Mass, stating, "If in hindsight we also discover that mistakes may have been made as regards prompt removal of priests and assistance to victims, I am deeply sorry".[9] Nearly ten years later, in February 2012, the retired cardinal retracted his apology in an interview with Connecticut magazine, stating, "I never should have said that," and repeatedly denied that any sexual abuse had happened while he was leading the Bridgeport diocese. [10][11]

US Supreme Court decision

On October 5, 2009, the United States Supreme Court rejected a request by the diocese to stay the Connecticut Supreme Court decision.[2]Bridgeport Diocese Loses Bid to Keep Sex-Abuse Records Sealed</ref> On Nov. 2, 2009 the United States Supreme Court decided [3]Press Release: Bridgeport Diocese Responds To U.S. Supreme Court Statement</ref> not to grant a writ of certiorari.[12]

Subsequent Events

Bishop William E. Lori has opposed legislation by State Representative Michael P. Lawlor and State Senator Andrew J. McDonald that would remove control of the diocese from the bishop and place it into the hands of laymen. The legislation had been written with the help of liberal Catholics, including Connecticut attorney Thomas Gallagher, a contributor to the group Voice of the Faithful.[13]

November 2009 hearings

The Connecticut Superior Court held hearings in November 2009 on procedures and privacy safeguards. The court ordered that the documents be released on Dec. 1, 2009, in CD form, to be given to the four newspapers—the Hartford Courant, the New York Times, Boston Globe and Washington Post—that had originally filed the lawsuit seeking to force the diocese to open the records to public inspection.[14] The diocese has provided background and a statement on the suit and its status.[15]

October 2019 judicial report

In October 2019, former Connecticut Superior Court Judge Robert Holzberg released the results of his investigation, commissioned by Bridgeport Bishop Frank Caggiano, into the Diocese's handling of accusations of sexual abuse by its priests. Holzberg found that all three of Bridgeport's bishops over forty years had consistently failed to fulfill their moral and legal responsibilities.[4] Holzberg found that Egan took a "dismissive, uncaring, and at times threatening attitude toward survivors"; he characterized the bishop's behavior as "profoundly unsympathetic, inadequate, and inflammatory".[4] Holzberg's report, which stemmed from a year-long investigation,[5] accused 71 priests of sexually abusing 300 children since 1953.[4] However, it also praised the reforms which were made by Egan's successors William Lori and Frank Caggiano to combat sex abuse and compared their tenure to that of their predecessors as "a tale of two cities."[5]

Case of Jaime Marin-Cardona

In March 2020, it was announced that the pre-trial hearing for accused Danbury priest Jaime Marin-Cardona would begin March 27, 2020 and conclude April 21, 2020.[16] Marin-Cardona was officially charged with three counts of fourth-degree sexual assault, three counts of risk of injury to child and three counts of illegal sexual contact.[16] He was arrested on January 3, 2020, and released on bond four weeks later after agreeing to wear a tracking device and comply with protective orders.[17] He has pled not guilty to all nine charges.[16]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference 292CR90 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference nytimes2009 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference courant was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b c d e Altimari, Dave; Blanco, Amanda (October 1, 2019). "Bridgeport Diocese report on sex abuse among priests blames former Archbishop Edward Egan; nearly 300 individuals allegedly abused by 71 priests since 1953". Hartford Courant. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
  5. ^ a b c White, Christopher (1 October 2019). "Bridgeport abuse report blasts Egan for 'clear message of unconcern'". Crux. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  6. ^ a b c Diocese of Bridgeport
  7. ^ "The Bridgeport Diocese has released names of priests accused of sexual abuse. Here's who they are and where they served". October 2019.
  8. ^ "Edward Egan becomes the ninth archbishop of New York in 2000". New York Daily News. 19 June 2000.
  9. ^ Murphy, Dean (April 21, 2002). "SCANDAL IN THE CHURCH: THE NEW YORK CARDINAL; Egan Says He May Have Mishandled Sex Abuse Cases". New York Times. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
  10. ^ Newman, Andy. "Cardinal Egan Criticized for Retracting Apology on Sexual Abuse Crisis". New York Times. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
  11. ^ Connor, Tom. "Cardinal Egan: Ten Years after". www.bishop-accountability.org. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
  12. ^ Court still needs to weigh final angle of Bridgeport documents case
  13. ^ Religious Freedom Under Attack in Connecticut
  14. ^ Judge sets Dec. 1 for release of diocesan sex-abuse records Archived 2009-11-14 at the Wayback Machine
  15. ^ "Statement of the Diocese of Bridgeport". Archived from the original on 2009-10-08. Retrieved 2009-11-11.
  16. ^ a b c Baker, By Kendra (23 March 2020). "Danbury clergy sexual abuse case continued to April". News-Times.
  17. ^ Baker, By Kendra (31 January 2020). "Former Danbury priest accused of sexual abuse released on bond". News-Times.
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