Catholic Clergy Abuse in Connecticut

The Roman Catholic Dioceses of Connecticut have released their lists of credibly accused priests and these lists of priests accused of abuse in Connecticut continue to grow as victims come forward to report the crimes against them. Recent changes in legislation, including Connecticut Senate Bill 3, have expanded the time that survivors have to file criminal charges or civil lawsuits against their abusers and the organizations that appointed them.

Changing Laws in Connecticut for Abuse of a Minor

In line with much of the United States, the state of Connecticut began amending its laws surrounding child sexual abuse and CT clergy abuse in 2002, by extending the time limit to file civil claims against perpetrators. Major reforms were signed into law in 2019, further expanding the criminal statute of limitations for crimes of sexually abusing children. With the changes made in 2019, Connecticut has become one of the highest ranking states in terms of protecting the rights of child victims of sexual assault.¹

Senate Bill 3 Changes Statutes of Limitations in CT

SB3 was signed into law in June of 2019, with the following changes²:

• Extending the deadline to file a civil claim for allegations of sexual abuse of a minor
• Eliminating the statute of limitations for filing criminal charges for sex crimes against a child below the age of 16
• Extending the deadline for adult victims to file criminal charges of sexual assault
• Establishing a task force to evaluate current statutes and recommend further improvements

The SB3 Task Force

By January 2020, the nine-member task force established by SB3 in Connecticut recommended eliminating the time limit to file a civil lawsuit for the following offenses:

• Sexual assault
• Sexual abuse
• Sexual exploitation

These recommendations are still pending review by the legislature but might further expand the rights of victims within the state. This could make many cases against the list of Catholic priests accused of abuse in CT that were considered ‘expired’ viable for prosecution or settlement.

What Is the Statute of Limitations for the Sexual Abuse of Minors in CT?

Like most states, the statutes of limitations in Connecticut vary between civil and criminal statutes. In some cases the window for criminal prosecution is longer, while in others a civil lawsuit can be filed later. Catholic priests accused of abuse and the religious orders that they represent are both open to civil lawsuits.

Criminal Statutes of Limitations in CT

There is no SOL for felony or misdemeanor child sex abuse in CT. In 2002, the SOL for first-degree sexual assault was eliminated, and in 2007, it was eliminated for aggravated sexual assault of a minor. For all other sexual abuse crimes, the statute of limitations expires at age 48, or within 5 years of reporting the crime to the police, whichever is earlier. If law enforcement is in possession of matching DNA evidence, the SOL does not apply.¹

Civil Statutes of Limitations in CT

If anyone accused of sexual abuse is convicted of a first-degree sexual assault, there is no SOL in CT for filing a civil lawsuit by a victim. For all other civil cases, the current statute of limitations is age 51. In cases where the abuse was fraudulently concealed from the victim, the statute of limitations does not begin to count down until the survivor discovers they were injured by abuse.¹

The List of Priests Accused of Abuse in CT

The Catholic Church publishes lists of clergy with allegations which are considered credible by their own internal review processes. Other cases have been reported in reputable news outlets or been criminally prosecuted.

As you review the names of the priests accused of abuse in CT, keep in mind that they are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Even if they have settled civil lawsuits, these do not usually include an admission of guilt. Similarly, the priest or authority figure who abused you may not be on the list of accused priests in CT, but that does not prevent you from filing a lawsuit against them.

List of Accused Priests in the Diocese of Bridgeport

The list of credibly accused priests for the Diocese of Bridgeport includes 59 clergy members³:

Fr. Thomas Kieran Ahearn

Ordained: 1964

Status: Convicted

Fr. Henry A. Albeke

Ordained: 1973

Status: Settled

Fr. Jose Daniel Alberran

Ordained: Unknown

Status: Settled

Fr. Stanley F. Banaszek

Ordained: 1970

Status: Settled

Fr. Alfred J. Bietighofer

Ordained: 1965

Status: Settled

Fr. Stanley Bonzszek

Ordained: Unknown

Status: Settled

Fr. Laurence F.X. Brett

Ordained: 1962

Status: Settled

Fr. Charles T. Carr

Ordained: 1980

Status: Settled

Fr. Paul Carrier

Ordained: 1977

Status: Sued

Fr. John J. Castaldo

Ordained: 1987

Status: Convicted

Fr. Stanislaus T. Chmura

Ordained: 1970

Status: Settled

Fr. Vincent Paul Cleary

Ordained: 1944

Status: Accused

Fr. Walter Phillip Coleman

Ordained: 1959

Status: Settled

Fr. Jean Marie DeGraff

Ordained: 1999

Status: Arrested

Fr. Stephen J. DeLuca

Ordained: 1965

Status: Accused

Fr. Joseph Michael DeShan

Ordained: 1987

Status: Settled

Fr. William D. Donovan

Ordained: 1961

Status: Settled

Fr. John Draper

Ordained: 1953

Status: Accused

Fr. Francis T. Ennis

Ordained: Unknown

Status: Accused

Fr. Martin J. Federici

Ordained: 1966

Status: Settled

Fr. William J. Fletcher

Ordained: 1944

Status: Settled

Fr. James Gay

Ordained: 1959

Status: Settled

Fr. William A. Genuario

Ordained: 1956

Status: Settled

Fr. James J. Gildea

Ordained: 1957

Status: Settled

Fr. Stephen Gleeson

Ordained: 1963

Status: Accused

Fr. Joseph H. Gorecki

Ordained: 1959

Status: Settled

Fr. Richard J. Grady

Ordained: 1947

Status: Settled

Fr. Sherman W. Gray

Ordained: 1970

Status: Settled

Fr. Martin Bryan Hitchcock

Ordained: 1951

Status: Accused

Fr. Larry Jensen

Ordained: 1988

Status: Settled

Fr. Joseph Kettner

Ordained: 1950

Status: Settled

Fr. Stanley N. Koziol

Ordained: 1958

Status: Accused

Fr. Bartholomew Laurello

Ordained: 1946

Status: Settled

Fr. Jose Afonso Lima

Ordained: 1991

Status: Accused

Fr. Joseph J. Malloy

Ordained: 1970

Status: Settled

Fr. Jaime Marin-Cardona

Ordained: 2010

Status: Charged

Fr. James McCormick

Ordained: 1916

Status: Accused

Fr. Albert McGoldrick

Ordained: 1978

Status: Settled

Fr. Francis D. McKenna

Ordained: 1945

Status: Accused

Seminarian Leonardo Montoya

Status: Convicted

Fr. Joseph P. Moore

Ordained: 1971

Status: Settled

Fr. Robert P. Morrissey

Ordained: 1976

Status: Settled

Fr. Joseph N. Murphy

Ordained: 1936

Status: Accused

Fr. William R. Nagle

Ordained: 1927

Status: Accused

Fr. Gavin O’Connor

Ordained: 1977

Status: Settled

Fr. Raymond Pcolka

Ordained: 1965

Status: Settled

Fr. Edmund P. Power

Ordained: 1968

Status: Accused

Fr. James F.X. Pratt

Ordained: 1986

Status: Accused

Fr. Boleslaus Rarus

Ordained: 1940

Status: Accused

Fr. Martin P. Ryan

Ordained: 1976

Status: Settled

Fr. John R. Sansonetti

Ordained: 1957

Status: Settled

Deacon Matthew J. Skurat

Status: Settled

Fr. Gregory M. Smith

Ordained: 1967

Status: Accused

Fr. Paul Spodnick

Ordained: 1927

Status: Accused

Fr. John J. Stronkowski

Ordained: 1985

Status: Accused

Fr. Charles W. Stubbs

Ordained: 1963

Status: Settled

Fr. Robert J. Valentine

Ordained: 1969

Status: Settled

Fr. Vincent J. Veich

Ordained: 1971

Status: Settled

Fr. Francis C. Wissel

Ordained: 1977

Status: Settled

List of Accused Priests in the Archdiocese of Hartford

In the Archdiocese of Hartford, CT, there are 51 clergy members listed as credibly accused⁴:

Fr. Gregory M. Altermatt

Ordained: 1976

Status: Sued

Fr. Kenneth P. Bonadies

Ordained: 1966

Status: Settled

Fr. Joseph F. Buckley

Ordained: 1932

Status: Sued

Fr. Stephen H. Bzdyra

Ordained: 1979

Status: Sued

Fr. Herbert Clarkin

Ordained: 1959

Status: Accused

Fr. Stephen Crowley

Ordained: 1955

Status: Settled

Sr. Linda Cusano

Status: Sued

Fr. Robert Walter Doyle

Ordained: 1935

Status: Sued

Fr. Ivan Ferguson

Ordained: 1970

Status: Settled

Fr. Stephen C. Foley

Ordained: 1967

Status: Settled

Fr. Thomas Glynn

Ordained: 1938

Status: Sued

Fr. Paul Gotta

Ordained: 2006

Status: Convicted

Fr. John Graham

Ordained: 1931

Status: Settled

Fr. Robert J. Grant

Ordained: 1993

Status: Acquitted

Fr. Philip Hussey

Ordained: 1938

Status: Accused

Fr. Edward Hyland

Ordained: 1967

Status: Accused

Fr. William Izquierdo

Ordained: 1958

Status: Accused

Fr. Roman Kramek

Ordained: Unknown

Status: Convicted

Fr. Joseph Lacy

Ordained: 1938

Status: Accused

Fr. Robert G. Ladamus

Ordained: 1970

Status: Settled

Fr. Felix H. Maguire

Ordained: 1950

Status: Settled

Deacon Terry Manspeaker

Ordained: 1990

Status: Convicted

Bishop Richard P. McGann

Ordained: 1970

Status: Settled

Fr. Daniel C. McSheffery

Ordained: 1956

Status: Settled

Fr. Michael Joseph Miller

Ordained: 2001

Status: Convicted

Fr. Peter G. Mitchell

Ordained: 1951

Status: Accused

Fr. Edward M. Moran

Ordained: 1976

Status: Accused

Fr. Edward J. Muha

Ordained: 1945

Status: Settled

Fr. Jeremiah Murasso

Ordained: 1979

Status: Cleared

Fr. Howard Nash

Ordained: 1961

Status: Accused

Fr. John T. O’Connor

Ordained: 1946

Status: Accused

Fr. Louis S. Paturzo

Ordained: 1973

Status: Settled

Fr. Raymond Paul

Ordained: 1955

Status: Accused

Fr. Robert Leo Pelkington

Ordained: 1968

Status: Convicted

Fr. John Pryor

Ordained: Unknown

Status: Accused

Fr. William P. Przybylo

Ordained: 1968

Status: Settled

Fr. George Raffaeta

Ordained: 1956

Status: Accused

Fr. Edward J. Reardon

Ordained: 1931

Status: Settled

Fr. Adolph Renkiewicz

Ordained: 1956

Status: Accused

Fr. Jose Rivera

Ordained: 1972

Status: Accused

Fr. Joseph T. Rozint

Ordained: 1967

Status: Sued

Fr. John W. Rudy

Ordained: 1977

Status: Convicted

Br. Thomas Sawyer

Status: Charged

Fr. Robert E. Shea

Ordained: 1941

Status: Accused

Fr. Kenneth H. Shiner

Ordained: 1971

Status: Settled

Br. Michael Benedict Taylor

Status: Accused

Fr. Edward Julian Tissera

Ordained: 1989

Status: Settled

Fr. Enrique Vasquez

Ordained: Unknown

Status: Convicted

Fr. Walter A. Vichas

Ordained: 1949

Status: Accused

Fr. Felix Werpechowski

Ordained: 1929

Status: Accused

Fr. Peter J. Zizka

Ordained: 1975

Status: Settled

List of Accused Priests in the Diocese of Norwich

The list of credibly accused priests in the Diocese of Norwich includes 39 clergy members⁵:

Br. Donald Paschal Alford

Status: Sued

Fr. Robert W. Barnes

Ordained: 1980

Status: Accused

Fr. Norbert E. Belliveau

Ordained: 1956

Status: Accused

Fr. Bernard W. Bissonnette

Ordained: 1958

Status: Sued

Fr. Richard T. Buongirno

Ordained: 1984

Status: Settled

Fr. Salvatore L. Busca

Ordained: 1955

Status: Accused

Fr. Dennis G. Carey

Ordained: 1998

Status: Arrested

Fr. Anthony R. Caron

Ordained: 1935

Status: Accused

Fr. Roger M. Comtois

Ordained: 1955

Status: Accused

Fr. James Curry

Ordained: 1949

Status: Settled

Br. Stephen DeMatteis

Status: Sued

Fr. Thomas Joseph Doyle

Ordained: 1974

Status: Sued

Fr. Edward Francis Frigault

Ordained: 1949

Status: Accused

Fr. Denis Galipeau

Ordained: 1961

Status: Accused

Fr. Roman S. Gromala

Ordained: 1950

Status: Accused

Fr. Paul L. Hebert, Jr.

Ordained: 1959

Status: Settled

Fr. Raymond J. Jean

Ordained: 1957

Status: Settled

Fr. Donat M. Jette

Ordained: 1918

Status: Accused

Fr. Stephan Leslie Johnson

Ordained: 1981

Status: Accused

Fr. John A. Kozon

Ordained: 1949

Status: Accused

Fr. James L. Liberty

Ordained: 1957

Status: Accused

Fr. Charles G. Many

Ordained: 1974

Status: Settled

Fr. Vincent Marino

Ordained: 1983

Status: Sued

Br. K. Paul McGlade

Status: Sued

Fr. Edward P. McGrath

Ordained: 1969

Status: Accused

Fr. Joseph P. Murphy

Ordained: 1988

Status: Accused

Fr. John C. Nash

Ordained: 1975

Status: Accused

Fr. Eugene F. Orteneau

Ordained: 1982

Status: Settled

Fr. J. Lawrence Ouimet

Ordained: 1974

Status: Sued

Fr. Joseph Owens

Ordained: 1971

Status: Accused

Fr. Donald Petraitis

Ordained: 1964

Status: Accused

Fr. Paul A. Pinard

Ordained: 1959

Status: Accused

Fr. Bruno Primavera

Ordained: 1973

Status: Convicted

Fr. John B. Ramsay

Ordained: 1956

Status: Accused

Fr. Thomas W. Shea

Ordained: 1946

Status: Settled

Sister Seraphia

Status: Accused

Fr. Eugene Alphonse Solega

Ordained: 1941

Status: Accused

Fr. Patrick J. Sullivan

Ordained: 1954

Status: Sued

Fr. Paschal Thomas

Ordained: 1959

Status: Accused

Learning More About Your Options Under CT Law

These lists are not complete and were created when brave survivors came forward to report the crimes against them. If you or a family member was abused by a member of the clergy in Connecticut, there may still be time to file a case. Even if the abuser has died in the meantime, the dioceses and parishes that may have knowingly covered up evidence of abuse can also be held accountable.

Very often these kinds of cases are settled out of court, and your attorney will guide you through the process at every step. You can talk with a compassionate and understanding attorney from Saunders and Walker, P.A. about your legal options by scheduling a free consultation today. In a confidential and supportive environment, you can take this important step to finding closure and receiving fair compensation for all you have endured.

Sources:

1. https://childusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/2021-02-26-2020-SOL-Report-2.16.21-v2-1.pdf
2. https://openstates.org/ct/bills/2019/SB3/
3. https://www.bishop-accountability.org/dioceses/usa-ct-bridgeport/
4. https://www.bishop-accountability.org/dioceses/usa-ct-hartford/
5. https://www.bishop-accountability.org/dioceses/usa-ct-norwich/