Connecticut Priest and Clergy Sexual Abuse Claims

Connecticut Clergy Sexual Abuse Laws

Lawmakers in Connecticut have debated bills that would allow survivors of childhood sexual abuse to file lawsuits years after the abuse occurred. These bills are often called “revival window” laws. They provide survivors a window of time to seek justice even if the original statute of limitations has expired.

Several groups opposed these legislative efforts, including the Catholic Church, insurance companies and the Boy Scouts. Reports show large amounts of money were spent lobbying against the proposed laws. In 2019, Connecticut lawmakers rejected a revival window bill.

Another proposal later stalled in the House Judiciary Committee and never reached a final vote. As of 2026, Connecticut does not have a revival law for older clergy sexual abuse claims.

Hartford Archdiocese Clergy Abuse Settlements

On January 22, 2019, the Archdiocese of Hartford released a public list of priests and clergy members who were “credibly accused” of sexually abusing children.

The Archdiocese also reported that it paid about $50.6 million to settle 142 sexual abuse lawsuits. Settlement amounts reportedly ranged from about $3,000 to $1.6 million, with an average settlement amount of $365,338.

Church officials hired retired Connecticut Superior Court Judge Antonio Robaina to review clergy records dating back to 1953. The review focused on identifying priests accused of child sexual abuse within the Archdiocese.

Bridgeport Diocese Abuse Allegation and Settlements

In October 2019, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgeport released a report about clergy sexual abuse involving priests connected to the Diocese since 1953.

According to the report:

  • 281 children were reportedly abused by priests serving the Diocese
  • 71 priests were accused of abuse
  • About 4.7% of priests serving the Diocese since 1953 were identified in abuse claims
  • Many incidents may never have been reported because some records were destroyed or incomplete
  • About 75% of reported victims were male
  • Victims ranged from 5 to 18 years old
  • Reported abuse included molestation, fondling and rape
  • The Diocese reportedly paid nearly $56 million in abuse settlements
  • 10 priests accounted for 172 abuse claims and approximately $45.4 million in settlement payments.

In a later update, the Diocese released 10 additional names of clergy members accused of child sexual abuse. The announcement came from Bishop Frank J. Caggiano. Some of the priests were deceased, while others were placed on administrative leave. All clergy identified in the initial report and the additional names have been added to the Diocese of Bridgeport’s list of credibly accused clergy members.

Norwich Diocese Bankruptcy and Clergy Abuse Claims

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Norwich filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on July 15, 2021. The Diocese’s bankruptcy proceedings continued for nearly four years. On May 21, 2025, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court approved the Diocese’s Joint Plan of Reorganization, bringing the Chapter 11 case to a close. The plan established a compensation fund of approximately $31 million for survivors of clergy sexual abuse.

The court established a deadline, called a “bar date,” for filing clergy sexual abuse claims that occurred before July 16, 2021. That deadline was March 15, 2022. Under the approved reorganization plan, new claims involving abuse before July 16, 2021 may no longer be accepted through the bankruptcy process. However, survivors of sexual abuse that occurred after July 15, 2021 may still have legal options, and our attorneys would like to speak with you.

Connecticut Priests and Clergy Accused of Child Sexual Abuse

Public lists released by Connecticut dioceses include priests, clergy members, nuns and religious educators accused of sexually abusing minors. These lists continue to grow as more survivors come forward and additional allegations become public.

A priest’s name not appearing on a publicly accused list does not always mean abuse did not happen. Some claims may not yet be publicly disclosed or investigated. The Meneo Law Group is actively pursuing cases against Catholic priests and clergy members, as well as figures from other religious institutions.

Lists of credibly accused Catholic clergy members from Connecticut’s four dioceses can be found below. If you or a loved one experienced abuse by a priest or other clergy member, please contact us today to speak with an experienced attorney. You may still have legal options available, even if the individual does not appear on these lists.

Archdiocese of Hartford64 Named Priests
Diocese of Bridgeport57 Named Priests
Diocese of Norwich45 Named Priests

Archdiocese of Hartford

The following is a list of Archdiocese of Hartford Clergy who have been the objects of legal settlements or otherwise credibly accused of sexual abuse of a minor from 1953 to the present:

Priests/Transitional Deacon of the Archdiocese of Hartford (36)

  • Stephen Gregory Altermatt
  • Karol H. Borowski
  • William A. Bray
  • Joseph Buckley
  • Stephen H. Bzdyra
  • Robert L. Callahan
  • Herbert Clarkin
  • Stephen Crowley
  • Guillermo de Jesus Velez Lopez
  • Joseph R. DeCarolis
  • Robert Doyle
  • Ivan Ferguson
  • Stephen Foley
  • Thomas Glynn
  • Paul Gotta
  • John Graham
  • Stanley E. Hastillo
  • Philip Hussey
  • Edward Hyland
  • Joseph Lacy
  • Robert Ladamus
  • David J. Lewandowski
  • Felix Maguire
  • Will-Roger Malave
  • Terry Manspeaker
  • Richard McGann
  • Daniel McSheffery
  • Timothy Meehan
  • Peter Mitchell
  • Edward Muha
  • Howard Nash
  • John T. O'Connor
  • Shane Patterson
  • Louis Paturzo
  • Raymond Paul
  • William Przybylo
  • George Raffaeta
  • Edward Reardon
  • Adolph Renkiewicz
  • Joseph Rozint
  • Thomas Sawyer
  • Robert E Shea
  • Carl J. Sherer
  • Kenneth Shiner
  • Thomas Sievel
  • Joseph Suppe
  • Michael Benedict Taylor
  • (Wamakulasuriya) Edward Tissera
  • Enrique Vasquez
  • Felix Werpechowski
  • Peter Zizka

Religious Order Priests and Priests from other Dioceses who have been credibly accused of sexual abuse of a minor that took place in the Archdiocese of Hartford from 1953 to the present.

Externs (Priests belonging to another Archdiocese/Diocese) (7)

  • Edward Franklin
  • Roman Kramek
  • Lucien Meunier
  • Bruno Primavera
  • John B. Ramsay
  • Jose Rivera
  • Toribio Villacastin

Religious order priests (6)

  • William Izquierdo
  • Michael Miller (OFM)
  • Robert Leo Pelkington
  • John Pryor (OAR)
  • John Rudy
  • John Szantyr

Diocese of Bridgeport

Bridgeport Priests Accused of Abuse

  • Kieran T. Ahearn
  • Henry A. Albeke
  • Jose Daniel Alberran
  • Stanley Banaszek
  • Alfred J. Bietighofer
  • Stanley Bonzszek
  • Laurence F. X. Brett
  • Charles T. Carr
  • John Castaldo
  • Stanislaus T. Chmura
  • Vincent Paul Cleary
  • W. Phillip Coleman
  • Jean Marie DeGraff
  • Stephen J. DeLuca
  • Joseph DeShan
  • William Donovan
  • John Draper
  • Francis T. Ennis
  • Martin J. Federici
  • William Fletcher
  • James A Gay
  • William A. Genuario
  • James Gildea
  • Stephen J. Gleeson
  • Joseph H. Gorecki
  • Richard J. Grady
  • Sherman Gray
  • Martin Hitchcock
  • Larry Jensen (Maronite Catholic Church)
  • Stanley Koziol
  • Bartholomew Laurello
  • Jose Afonso Lima
  • Joseph Malloy
  • Jaime Marin-Cardona
  • James McCormick
  • Albert McGoldrick
  • Francis D. McKenna
  • Leonardo Montoya
  • Joseph P. Moore
  • Robert Morrissey
  • Joseph N. Murphy
  • William R. Nagle (Not to be confused with a similar named priest, Monsignor William Aloysius Nagle, who had a long-distinguished career with no sexual abuse allegations)
  • Gavin O'Connor
  • Raymond S. Pcolka
  • Edmund P. Power
  • James F.X. Pratt
  • Boleslaus “Bill” Rarus
  • Martin Ryan
  • John R. Sansonetti
  • Matthew J. Skurat
  • Gregory M. Smith
  • Paul Spodnick
  • John J. Stronkowski
  • Charles W. Stubbs
  • Robert J. Valentine
  • Vincent Veich
  • Frank Wissel

Diocese of Norwich

Clergy with Allegations of Substance of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Norwich

Incardinated Priests of the Diocese of Norwich

  • Norbert E. Belliveau
  • Bernard W. Bissonnette
  • Normand R. Boulanger
  • Richard T. Buongirno
  • Salvatore L. Busca
  • Dennis G. Carey
  • Anthony R. Caron
  • Roger M. Comtois
  • James A. Curry
  • Edward F. Frigault
  • Denis Galipeau
  • Roman S. Gromala
  • Paul L. Hebert
  • Raymond J. Jean
  • Donat M. Jette
  • John A. Kozon
  • Vincent F. Marino
  • K. Paul McGlade
  • Joseph P. Murphy
  • John C. Nash
  • J. Lawrence Ouimet
  • John B. Ramsay
  • Thomas W. Shea

Priests Incardinated in Another Diocese Who Served in the Diocese of Norwich

  • Louis Paturzo
  • Bruno Primavera

Priests Belonging to a Religious Order Who Served in the Diocese of Norwich

  • Thomas J. Doyle (SM)
  • Charles Many (SSE)
  • Eugene Orteneau (SJ)
  • Robert Leo Pelkington (OP)
  • Patrick Sullivan (OCSO)
  • Paschal Thomas (OSB)

Priests Who Served in the Diocese of Norwich Who Had Allegations in Other Dioceses But Not in the Diocese of Norwich

  • Joseph Buckley
  • William J. Cullen
  • Joseph Gorecky
  • Stephan Leslie Johnson (CSP)
  • Michael Krol
  • Felix Maguire
  • Edward P. McGrath
  • Frank J. McManus
  • Peter Mitchell
  • Joseph V. Owens
  • Paul Pinard (SSE)
  • Edward Reardon
  • Robert E. Shea
  • Felix Werpechowski

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