Priest Abuse in Connecticut

There are around 150 priests accused of abuse in Connecticut named by the Catholic dioceses.

Many survivors have received settlements for the abuse they suffered at the hands of Catholic clergy members, and at least one Connecticut diocese has filed bankruptcy in the wake of the abuse allegations.

Settlements Paid to Connecticut Priest Abuse Survivors

As of 2019, several dioceses in Connecticut, including Hartford, Bridgeport, and Norwich, have paid significant settlements to survivors of clergy sexual abuse. Collectively, these three dioceses have paid more than $110 million in settlements, as follows:

Hartford – $50.6 million

Bridgeport – $56.6 million

Norwich – $7.6 million

Most of the claims settled by these dioceses involve abuse cases that occurred decades ago, and many of the accused clergy members are now deceased.

Expanded Legal Rights for Sexual Abuse Survivors Under SB3

In 2019, state lawmakers passed Senate Bill 3 (SB3), which broadened the legal rights of sexual violence victims, including child sexual abuse survivors by:

• Extending the legal deadline to file civil claims for child sex abuse
• Eliminating the legal deadline for criminal sexual offenses against a minor under age 16
• Extending the legal deadline for adult victims to press criminal charges for sexual assault

SB3 made important changes to the statutes of limitations, giving abuse survivors more time to file claims.

What Is a Statute of Limitations?

A statute of limitations (SOL) is a legal deadline that restricts the amount of time a person/party has to file a lawsuit after the date of an alleged offense.

Statutes of limitations vary based on several factors, including the crime, the jurisdiction, and whether it is a criminal charge or a civil claim.

Civil and Criminal Statutes for Child Sex Abuse Survivors in Connecticut

Civil Statutes – In Connecticut, there is no civil statute of limitations in cases of first-degree sexual assault or aggravated assault. For all other cases, people who suffered abuse before age 21 have until age 51 to file a civil claim against their abuser. SB3 (passed in 2019) extended the civil statute from 48 to 51 years of age.

Criminal Statutes – In Connecticut, there is no criminal statute of limitations for victims of sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, or sexual assault if they were under age 16 at the time of the abuse or incident. This applies to both felonies and misdemeanors.

For more information about the criminal statutes for sexual offenses in Connecticut, visit https://childusa.org/law/connecticut/sex-abuse-sol/ or contact our attorneys for a free consultation.

Why Survivors Need a “Lookback Window”

Before SB3 passed, there was a five-year statute of limitations for most sexual assault crimes. Yet, for many childhood sexual abuse survivors, it takes decades to process what happened to them.

More than half of childhood sexual abuse victims don’t disclose the abuse they suffered until age 50 or older. Prior statutes of limitations laws in Connecticut robbed many victims of the opportunity to seek justice for the abuse they suffered.

SB3 expanded their rights. However, critics argue that the law still ultimately favors perpetrators’ rights over those of abuse and assault victims.

Unfortunately, legislation has not been passed in Connecticut that would open a “lookback” window for clergy sex abuse victims. A lookback period would allow childhood sexual abuse survivors to file claims for past abuse they suffered, regardless of their current age or when the abuse occurred.

Several states, including Maine, Vermont, California, Arkansas, and Hawaii have created lookback windows. As of early 2023, there are no efforts being made to create a lookback period in Connecticut.

List of Connecticut Priests Accused of Abuse

Both the Bishop Accountability project and ProPublica have compiled lists of priests, clergy, and others affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church who have been credibly accused of sexual abuse.

• Bishop Accountability Database – https://www.bishop-accountability.org/accused/
• ProPublica Database – https://projects.propublica.org/credibly-accused/

The complete Connecticut priest abuse lists are shown below, by diocese. As you go through these lists, keep in mind that these individuals are innocent until proven guilty in court and, typically, settlement agreements do not include an admission of guilt.

A Diocese Review Board determines if accusations are “credible.” Many settlements are paid by an independent compensation program to protect the reputation of the church officials involved.

Even if you don’t see the name of a clergy member below, it does not mean there have been no accusations made against them. Nor does it mean you don’t have a claim.

Our attorneys can help you determine whether you may have a claim, even if you don’t see your abuser’s name below. Call us for a free, confidential consultation at 1-800-748-7115.

Diocese of Bridgeport, CT

Fr. Thomas Kieran Ahearn. Sentenced to two years probation for molesting a 16-year-old boy. Accused of sexually abusing a 9-year-old altar boy on the day of the boy’s sister’s wedding. Died in 1997.

Fr. Henry A. Albeke (also spelled Albecke). Accused of abusing a minor and placed on leave, with claims against him settled by the diocese in a massive settlement. Laicized in 2007.

Fr. Jose Daniel Alberran. Accused of abusing a 14-year-old girl, and was subject of settlement.

Fr. Stanley F. Banaszek (also spelled Bonaszek). Accused of sexually assaulting an altar boy; case was settled with others by diocese. Abuse of another boy reported. Died in 2007.

Fr. Alfred J. Bietighofer. Listed as credibly accused in report commissioned by diocese for the abuse of 17 victims, ranging in age from 12 to 15, between 1959 and 1989. Claims against him settled as part of massive settlement by diocese.

Fr. Stanley Bonzszek. Named publicly by diocese on its list of allegations of abuse. Died in 2007.

Fr. Laurence F.X. Brett. Multiple accusations against him, including the abuse of over two dozen altar boys and others, ranging in age from 10 to 18, as well as two female victims. Included on multiple diocese abuse lists. Fled the country in 1993. Laicized in 2006. Died in 2010.

Fr. Charles T. Carr. Listed as credibly accused of the abuse of 12 boys and girls, ranging in age from 9 to 15, between 1979 and 1990, in a report commissioned by the diocese. Laicized in 2005.

Fr. Paul Carrier. Sued in federal court in 2014 by a man accusing Carrier of sexual abuse when he was teen a decade prior at a school in Haiti where Carrier served as chaplain.

Fr. John J. Castaldo. Arrested in 2001 over online explicit sexual conversations with undercover police he believed to be a 14-year-old boy. Listed as credibly accused of the abuse of 14 boys and girls, ranging in age from 6 to 14, between 1987 and 2001, in a report commissioned by the diocese. Laicized in 2007.

Fr. Stanislaus T. Chmura. Listed as accused of the abuse of 13-year-old in a report commissioned by the diocese. Died in 2011.

Fr. Vincent Paul Cleary. Listed in report commissioned by diocese as credibly accused of the abuse of two girls, ranging in age from 8 to 10, between 1945 and 1954. Died in 1989.

Fr. Walter Phillip Coleman. Named in report commissioned by diocese as credibly accused of the abuse of 12 minor boys, ranging in age from 6 to 14, between 1969 and 1982. Sued numerous times over allegations.

Fr. Jean Marie DeGraff. Named in report commissioned by diocese as credibly accused of the abuse an 8-year-old girl in 2008. Arrested in Canada on charges of sexual activity with at least one minor in 2011.

Fr. Stephen J. DeLuca. Named in report commissioned by diocese as credibly accused of the abuse of a 10-year-old boy in 1980. Removed from ministry in 2014.

Fr. Joseph Michael DeShan. Accused of sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl who became pregnant in 1989. Bishop Egan allowed DeShan to leave priesthood without reporting sexual misconduct. Laicized in 1999. Claim settled in 2003.

Fr. William D. Donovan. Named in report commissioned by diocese as credibly accused of the abuse of 8 boys and girls, ranging in age from 15 to 17, between 1967 and 1993. Claims against him settled as part of massive settlement in 2003. Died in 2018.

Fr. John Draper. Named publicly by diocese to have a credible allegation of abuse against him, having occurred in 1958. Died in 1966.

Fr. Francis T. Ennis. Named publicly by Jesuits Northeast Province to have a credible allegation of abuse against him, having occurred between 1965 and 1967. Died in 1985.

Fr. Martin J. Federici. Named in report commissioned by diocese as credibly accused of the abuse of 19 boys and girls, ranging in age from 8 to 17, from 1967 to 1994. Sued multiple times, leading to settlements. Laicized in 2003. Died in 2013.

Fr. William J. Fletcher. Suit settled against him for allegations of the sexual abuse of a 7-year-girl in 1964. Died in 1988.

Fr. James Gay. Named in report commissioned by diocese as credibly accused of the abuse of a 15-year-old boy in 1976.

Fr. William A. Genuario. Subject of multiple settlements related to allegations of abuse. Listed in report commissioned by diocese as credibly accused of the abuse of 6 boys, ranging in age from 10 to 14, from 1967 to 1987. Died in 2015.

Fr. James J. Gildea. Named in report commissioned by diocese as credibly accused of the abuse of 9 boys, ages 14 and 15, from 1965 to 1982. Subject of multiple settlements related to allegations of abuse. Died in 1986.

Fr. Stephen Gleeso. Diocesan Sexual Misconduct Review Board deemed the allegation of the abuse of a 16-year-old girl in 1977 credible. Faculties removed in 2019.

Fr. Joseph H. Gorecki (also spelled Gorecky). Named in report commissioned by diocese as credibly accused of the abuse of 20 boys, ranging in age from 7 to 17, from 1960 to 1978. Subject in mulitple settlements related to allegations of abuse.

Fr. Richard J. Grady. Named in report commissioned by diocese as credibly accused of the abuse of a 10-year-old boy from 1972 to 1973. Claim against him settled by diocese as part of massive settlement in 2003. Died in 1993.

Fr. Sherman W. Gray. Named in report commissioned by diocese as credibly accused of the abuse of a 16-year-old boy from 1981 to 1982. Claim against him settled by diocese as part of massive settlement in 2003.

Fr. Martin Bryan Hitchcock. Named in report commissioned by diocese as credibly accused of the abuse of 2 boys from 1954 to 1955. Died in 2014.

Fr. Larry Jensen. Included in suit settled by diocese for allegations of sexual abuse of a minor.

Fr. Joseph Kettner. Accused of sexually abusing two girls, ages 7 and 8, in the 1970s. Included in suit settled by diocese for allegations of sexual abuse of minors. The allegations against him were deemed not credible. Died in 2002.

Fr. Stanley N. Koziol. Named in report commissioned by diocese as credibly accused of the abuse of two 13-year-old boys from 1962 to 1965. Deposition showed senior diocesan official was aware of questions about his behavior for years.

Fr. Bartholomew Laurello. Named in report commissioned by diocese as credibly accused of the abuse of a 13-year-old boy in 1965. Died in 2004.

Fr. Jose Afonso Lima. Placed on leave in 2008 for allegations of the sexual assault of a minor. Fled to home country of Brazil after notification of investigation by Department of Children and Families.

Fr. Joseph J. Malloy. Included in 2001 global settlement in claims against the diocese and 5 priests. Died in 2016.

Fr. Jaime Marin-Cardona. Admitted to touching the private parts of two minor boys. Sentenced to jail time in 2022 on sexual assault charge.

Fr. George M. Maslar. Case against him settled in 2021 for the sexual abuse of a 15-year-old girl in 1971. Died in 2021.

Fr. James McCormick. Named in report commissioned by diocese as credibly accused of the abuse of 2 boys between 1953 and 1954. Died in 1965.

Fr. Albert McGoldrick. Accused with two other priests of abusing a 15-year-old boy between 1979 and 1983. Named in claim settled by diocese as part of a massive settlement in 2003. Laicized in 2005.

Fr. Francis D. McKenna. Named in report commissioned by diocese as credibly accused of the abuse of 6 girls, ranging in age from 7 to 10, between 1950 and 1966. Died in 1989.

Seminarian Leonardo Montoya. Sentenced to jail time for the molestation of a 16-year-old girl in 2003.

Fr. Joseph P. Moore. Named in report commissioned by diocese as credibly accused of the abuse of 5 boys, ranging in age from 8 to 18, between 1972 and 1979. Subject of multiple settlement claims. Laicized in 2004.

Fr. Robert P. Morrissey. Named in a report commissioned by diocese as credibly accused of the abuse of 3 boys, ranging in age from 12 to 17, between 1981 and 1998. Subject of multiple settlement claims over abuse. Died in 2014.

Fr. Joseph N. Murphy. Accused publicly of sexually abusing a minor. Died in 1988.

Fr. William R. Nagle. Named in report commissioned by diocese as credibly accused of the abuse of a 13-year-old boy between 1973 and 1976. Died in 1979.

Fr. Gavin O’Connor. Named in report commissioned by diocese as credibly accused of the abuse of 5 boys (including 4 brothers), ranging in age from 13 to 19, between 1977 and 1985. Subject of multiple settlement claims.

Fr. Raymond Pcolka. Named in report commissioned by diocese as credibly accused of the abuse of 28 boys and girls, ranging in age from 5 to 14, between 1965 and 1990. Subject of multiple settlement claims. Laicized in 2004. Died in 2009.

Fr. Edmund P. Power. Named in Jesuits Northeast Province list as being credibly accused of abuse of minors between 1969 and 1976. Died in 1976.

Fr. James F.X. Pratt. Named in Jesuits Northeast Province list as credibly accused of the abuse of minors in the 1980s. Also included in Diocese of Nashville’s list. Died in 2019.

Fr. Boleslaus Rarus. Named in report commissioned by diocese as credibly accused of the abuse of 3 boys, ranging in age from 11 to 14, in 1959. Died in 2005.

Fr. Martin P. Ryan. Claim of sexual abuse of a teen girl by Ryan in the 1970s was included in massive settlement in 2003. Victim alleges there were at least two other victims.

Fr. John R. Sansonetti. Named in report commissioned by diocese for the accusation of sexual abuse of a 12-year-old boy between 1976 and 1977.

Deacon Matthew J. Skurat. Named in report commissioned by diocese for the accusation of abuse of a 10-year-old boy between 1983 and 1991. Died in 2013.

Fr. Gregory M. Smith. Named in report commissioned by diocese as credibly accused of the abuse of a 17-year-old girl between 1967 and 1968.

Fr. Paul Spodnick. Named in report commissioned by diocese as credibly accused of abuse of a girl in 1958. Died 1976.

Fr. John J. Stronkowski. Listed as credibly accused of the abuse of an 11-year-old boy in 1999 in a report commissioned by the diocese.

Fr. Charles W. Stubbs. Listed as credibly accused of the abuse 18 boys, ranging in age from 9 to 17, between 1964 and 1993, in a report commissioned by the diocese.

Fr. Robert J. Valentine. Accused of sexual abuse of a 17-year-old girl in 1984.

Fr. Vincent J. Veich. Admitted to sexual misconduct with a 17-year-old girl in the late 1970s. Included in claim settled by diocese as part of a massive settlement in 2003.

Fr. Francis C. Wissel. Diocese paid two men to settle claims of abuse by Wissel and former Vicar General Genuario. A report commissioned by diocese included allegations of abuse of 3 boys, ages 12 and 13, between 1979 and 1985. Died in 2014.

Archdiocese of Hartford, CT

Fr. Gregory M. Altermatt. Removed from ministry in 2012. Sued in 2018 for the alleged abuse of a young boy on multiple occasions, starting in 1976.

Fr. Joseph F. Buckley. Claim of alleged sexual abuse on multiple occasions of a 14-year-old in 1971 was included in massive settlement in 2005. Died in 1975.

Fr. Stephen H. Bzdyra. Named in multiple lawsuits alleging abuse. Laicized in 2018. Died in 2019.

Fr. Herbert Clarkin. Publicly named on archdiocese list of accused abusers. Removed from ministry in 2002. Died in 2010.

Fr. Stephen Crowley. Included as a subject in claims of abuse settled by archdiocese as part of massive settlement in 2005. Died in 2016.

Sr. Linda Cusano. Accused in a 2003 lawsuit of repeatedly sexually assaulting a female high school student between 1991 and 1992.

Fr. Robert Walter Doyle. Accused in a 2009 lawsuit of abusing a teenage boy between 1971 and 1975. Died in 1975.

Fr. Ivan Ferguson. Accused in multiple lawsuits of abusing minors, including 3 brothers. At least 2 claims included in massive settlement by archdiocese in 2005. Died in 2002.

Fr. Stephen C. Foley. Subject of 13 settlements involving allegations of abuse as of 2009. Archdiocese aware of allegations as early as the 1960s but did not remove Foley until 1993 when police were informed. Laicized in 2016.

Fr. Thomas Glynn. Accused in multiple lawsuits of abuse. At least one claim included in massive settlement by archdiocese in 2005. Died in 1993.

Fr. Paul Gotta. Arrested in 2014 on sexual assault charges; charges dropped in 2015 in plea agreement. Pled guilty to second degree breach of peace; received 6-month suspended sentence. Pled guilty in 2016 to distributing explosives to a minor; sentenced to 9 months in prison.

Fr. John J. Graham. Included as a subject in $22 million settlement in 2005 by archdiocese involving allegations of abuse. Died in 1983.

Fr. Robert J. Grant. Arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a teenage boy in 2007; released on bail. Re-arrested later in the year for attempting to call the accuser. Jury found him not guilty in 2009.

Fr. Philip J. Hussey. Named publicly as accused on archdiocese’s 2019 list. Died in 1978.

Fr. Edward F. Hyland. Named publicly as accused on archdiocese’s 2019 list. Removed from ministry in 2002. Laicized in 2016.

Fr. William Izquierdo. At least 2 allegations of abuse investigated. Named publicly as accused on archdiocese’s 2019 list. Died in 2015.

Fr. Roman Kramek. Arrested in 2002 for allegedly sexually abusing a 17-year-old girl. Sentenced to 9 months in jail and 10 years probation in 2004 plea agreement.

Fr. Joseph R. Lacy. Named publicly as accused on archdiocese’s 2019 list. Died in 1990.

Fr. Robert G. Ladamus. Subject of settled claim for alleged sexual abuse of 2 minor boys. Named publicly as accused on archdiocese’s 2019 list. Died in 2012.

Fr. Felix H. Maguire. Subject of multiple suits alleging abuse. Claims against him included in massive settlement in 2005. On both Hartford archdiocese’s list and Norwich diocese’s list of accused. Died in 2008.

Deacon Terry Manspeaker. Upon pleading guilty, received 5 years probation in 1994 for the assault of a 17-year-old boy and making sexual advances on a 14-year-old boy. On archdiocese’s 2019 list of accused.

Fr. Richard P. McGann. Subject of an undisclosed settlement by archdiocese in 2009 for the alleged sexual abuse of a 12-year-old, starting in 1975 until 1977. On archdiocese’s 2019 list of accused.

Fr. Daniel C. McSheffery. Accused of abusing at least 8 boys at St. Augustine School in the 1960s and 1970s. Allegedly abused a 9-year-old altar boy over a 5-year period, starting in 1977. Named in multiple civil suits. At least 8 claims against him included in massive settlement by archdiocese in 2005. Died in 2014.

Fr. Timothy Meehan. Admitted to sexual involvement with an individual under his supervision who was under age 18, but of the age of consent. Named publicly on Legionaries of Christ’s 2022 list of accused.

Fr. Michael Joseph Miller. Pled guilty in 2013 to multiple charges, including risk of injury to a minor and possession of child pornography. Implicated by at least 9 minors. Sentenced to 5 years prison and 20 years probation.

Fr. Peter G. Mitchell. Subject of a 2012 civil suit alleging the sexual abuse of a minor boy. On both Hartford archdiocese’s list and Norwich diocese’s list of accused. Died in 2016.

Fr. Edward M. Moran. Investigated by archdiocese in 1996 over an allegation of abuse of a 7- or 8-year-old girl in 1980, concluding no basis for allegation.

Fr. Edward J. Muha. Claim of abuse of a 7- or 8-year-old boy in 1970 included in massive settlement by the archdiocese in 2005. Died in 2002.

Fr. Jeremiah Murasso. Placed on leave in 2015 over accusation of sexual abuse of a minor more than 20 years prior. Archdiocese investigation concluded allegations to be “insubstantial” and cleared Murasso to return to ministry.

Fr. Howard Nash. Named publicly on archdiocese’s 2019 list of accused. Died in 2001.

Fr. John T. O’Connor. Named publicly on archdiocese’s 2019 list of accused. Died in 2003.

Fr. Louis S. Paturzo. Removed without privileges in 2002 over allegations of sexual misconduct of at least 2 adolescent boys in the early 1970s. Named in massive settlement by archdiocese in 2005. Laicized in 2008. On both Hartford archdiocese’s list and Norwich diocese’s list of accused.

Fr. Raymond Paul. Accused of molesting a 15-year-old boy for 3 weeks while in the hospital recovering from burns. Sued multiple times over allegations of abuse at the same hospital. Named in massive settlement by archdiocese in 2005. Died in 2008.

Fr. Robert Leo Pelkington. Surrendered to police in 2000 after being charged with abusing two brothers from 1998 to 1999. Listed on sex offender registry in Washington, D.C. as of 2009. Added to Dominicans St. Joseph Province list (late 2018), Hartford archdiocese’s list (01/2019), Norwich diocese’s list (02/2019), and Columbus diocese’s list (12/2019). Laicized in 2011. Died in 2015.

Fr. John A. Pryor. Named publicly as accused by the Hartford archdiocese in 01/2019. Noted to have abused while in the Archdiocese.

Fr. William P. Przybyl. Accused in 2003 of sexually abusing two altar boys in the 1970s. Added to the archdiocese’s list in 2019. Removed from the ministry in 2008 and sentenced by the Vatican in 2015 to a life of prayer and penance.

Fr. George Raffaeta. Named publicly as accused by archdiocese on its list in 2019. Removed from ministry in 2002. Died in 2010.

Fr. Edward J. Reardon. Accused in 2004 of abusing a 15- to 16-year-old boy in 1971-72. Subject of large settlement claim in 2005. Added to the archdiocese’s and Norwich diocese’s lists in 2019. Died in 1991.

Fr. Adolph Renkiewicz. Named publicly as accused by archdiocese on its list in 2019. Died in 2015.

Fr. Jose Rivera. Named publicly as accused by the Archdiocese of Hartford on its list in 2019. Removed by archdiocese in 1994.

Fr. Joseph T. Rozint. Accused in a 2011 civil suit against the Hartford archdiocese of sexually abusing a 13-year-old boy in 1977. Died in 2009.

Fr. John W. Rudy. Arrested twice in 1998 for allegedly improperly touching boys aged 18 or younger. Later imprisoned and sent to treatment. Added to the Hartford archdiocese list in 2019. Added to the Holy Name Province Franciscans’ allegations list in 2020.

Br. Thomas Sawyer. Arrested in 2016 and charged with possession of child pornography. Sawyer may have downloaded thousands of photos of naked children, mostly pre-teen males.

Seminarian Shane Patterson. Named publicly by the Legionaries of Christ in 2021. Substantiated allegation of abuse of a “pre-candidate” in Cheshire, CT in the mid-1990s. Laicized.

Fr. Robert E. Shea. Added to the Norwich diocese’s and the Hartford Archdiocese’s lists of credibly accused in 2019. Retired in 1992. Died in 1995.

Fr. Kenneth H. Shiner. Accused in a 2001 lawsuit of abusing a boy from 1980 to 1984. Removed from ministry in 2001. Subject of a massive settlement claim in 2005. Laicized in 2016. Added to archdiocese’s list in 2019.

Br. Michael Benedict Taylor. “Defrocked” for allegedly molesting boys in Trinidad in 1997. Quit his position as principal of a Trinidad school in 1997 after several alleged victims came forward. More victims came forward in 2002.

Fr. Edward Julian Tissera. From Sri-Lanka. In 2011, allegedly admitted to molesting 17- or 18-year-old male during confession. Accused of sexually assaulting 13- to 14-year-old boy from 2000 to 2001 in Watertown, CT; case settled in 2016. Laicized in 2018. Added to archdiocese’s list in 2019.

Fr. Enrique Vasquez. Priest of the Diocese of Ciudad Quesada, Costa Rica. Charged in Costa Rica with abuse of a child in 1994. Fled to Connecticut. Worked as a priest in both New York and Hartford. Convicted in absentia in 2005 by a Costa Rican court and sentenced to 12 years in prison.

Fr. Walter A. Vichas. Accused in a 2018 lawsuit of sexually abusing a 10-year-old altar boy from 1979 to 1980. Retired in 2001. Died in 2008.

Fr. Felix Werpechowski. Per a 2019 report, three allegations of abuse of boys ages 5-14, occurring from 1946 to 1951. Added to Hartford archdiocese’s list in 2019 and Norwich diocese’s list in 2019. Died in 1972.

Fr. Peter J. Zizka. Accused in two 1995 lawsuits of abusing female children in the 1970s. By 2002, a total of five lawsuits had been filed against Zizka. All cases were settled. Added to archdiocese’s list in 2019. Laicized in 2002.

Diocese of Norwich, CT

Br. Donald Paschal Alford. From Australia. Alleged to have sexually abused several residents of an orphanage from 1970 to 1978. Also accused of abusing students between 1986 and 1996 at a school for at-risk children in the US. Died in 2004.

Fr. Robert W. Barnes. Removed from ministry in 2002, per 2019 diocese’s list. Member of the De La Salle Christian Brothers for 30 years. Named principal of St. Bernard High School in Uncasville in 1981. Died in 2008.

Fr. Norbert E. Belliveau. Added to diocese’s list of those accused of sexual abuse of minors sometime between early 2019 and early 2021. Died in 1989.

Fr. Bernard W. Bissonnette. Worked in CT, MN, and NM. Accused of abusing numerous youths almost everywhere he served. Named in suits filed in 1997, 2002, 1996. Accused in a 2015 lawsuit of raping an altar boy, age 7-12, hundreds of times between 1968 and 1973 in NM. Added to Santa Fe archdiocese’s list in 2017, to Las Cruces diocese’s list in 2018, and to Norwich diocese’s list in 2019. Died in 2008.

Fr. Normand R. Boulanger. Added to diocese’s accused list in 2021. Laicized in 1973. Died in 1996.

Fr. Richard T. Buongirno. Accused of abusing multiple victims in the 1970s and 1990s. Subject in large diocese settlement in 2003. Cited in a 2008 RICO suit. Laicized in 2005. Added to diocese’s list of accused in 2019.

Fr. Salvatore L. Busca. Listed as accused by Norwich diocese on its list in 2019. Removed from ministry in 1961 and excardinated from diocese in 1969. Died in 2006.

Fr. Dennis G. Carey. Subject of police investigation for having hundreds of child porn images and dozens of child porn videos on church computer. Arrested and later arraigned in 2012. Died in 2013. Included on diocese’s list in 2019.

Fr. Anthony R. Caron. Named publicly as accused by diocese on its list in 2019. Removed from ministry in 1959 and died in 1969.

Fr. Roger M. Comtois. Named publicly as accused by diocese on its list 2019. Resigned in 1988. Died in 1998.

Fr. James Curry. Accused of abusing several victims in the 1960s and 1980s. One of the suits was settled in 1986. Included on diocese’s list in 2019. Died in 1986.

Br. Stephen DeMatteis. Accused of “making a sexual advance” toward a boy. Civil suit filed in 1994 on behalf of boy and his brother against Norwich diocese and several other clergy members.

Fr. Thomas Joseph Doyle. Accused of molesting twin brothers over a 10-year period starting around 1980; civil suit filed in 1995. Two more accusers later came forward. Laicized in 2002. Died in 2007. Added to Diocese of Norwich’s accused list in 2019, Marianists list in 2020, Baltimore’s list in 2020, and Cincinnati archdiocese’s list in 2022.

Fr. Edward Francis Frigault. Named on diocese’s accused list in 2019. Removed from ministry in 2002. Died in 2008.

Fr. Denis Galipeau. Named on Norwich diocese’s accused list in 2019. Removed from ministry in 1964. Excardinated in 1970. Incardinated into the Archdiocese of Montreal.

Fr. Roman S. Gromala. Named on Norwich diocese’s list in 2019. Left the Norwich diocese and relocated to Florida in 1955. Excardinated in 1972. Incardinated into the Diocese of St. Petersburg. Died in 1991.

Fr. Paul L. Hebert, Jr. Accused of sexually abusing a victim in the 1970s. Also accused of abusing an altar boy hundreds of times in the 1990s. Subject in a large 2007 settlement. Added to the diocese’s list in 2019.

Fr. Raymond J. Jean. Accused of abusing multiple victims in the 1970s and 1980s. Subject in at least three suits and one 2001 settlement. Added to diocese’s list in 2019.

Fr. Donat M. Jette. Accused in 2002 of abusing a victim in the 1960s. Jette was deceased by the time the complaint was made. Not included on diocese’s 2019 list.

Fr. Stephan Leslie Johnson. Named publicly as accused by Paulists and Diocese of Norwich on their lists in 2019. Added to Columbus diocese’s list in 2019.

Fr. John A. Kozon. Named publicly as accused by diocese on its list in 2019. Removed from ministry in 2005. Died in 2013.

Fr. James L. Liberty. Accused of abusing an 18-year-old girl in the 1980s while working as a marriage and family counselor in Norwich. Died in 1995.

Fr. Charles G. Many. Accused of abusing boys in the 1970s and 1980s. Subject of multiple large settlements in the 2000s. Resigned from priesthood 1994. Laicized in 1995. Added to Norwich diocese’s list in 2019, to Edmundites list in 2019, and to Burlington, VT diocese’s list in 2019.

Fr. Vincent Marino. Accused of abusing a teenager in 2013. Excardinated in 1989. Incardinated into the Archdiocese of Siracusa, Italy. Added to Norwich diocese’s accused list in 2019.

Br. K. Paul McGlade. From Australia. Accused of abusing at-risk boys at a school in CT during the 1980s, and of abusing students prior to his arrival in CT. As of 2020 there were 35 lawsuits alleging abuse by McGlade, with more expected to be filed. Died in 2013.

Fr. Edward P. McGrath. Taught at schools in NY and Montville, CT. Credible allegations of abuse received in 2000 and 2004. Died in 1998. Added to Norwich diocese’s list in 2019 and Salesians’ list of credibly accused in 2020.

Fr. Joseph P. Murphy. Named publicly as accused by diocese on its list in 2019. Removed from ministry in 1998. Died in 2015.

Fr. John C. Nash. Named publicly as accused by diocese on its list in 2019. Removed from ministry in 2002. Petitioned for laicization in 2002. Died in 2010.

Fr. Eugene F. Orteneau. Accused in a 2005 civil suit of abusing a 16-year-old boy in Storrs, CT. Subject of large settlement in 2007. Died in 2009. Added to Jesuits Northeast Province list of credibly accused in 2019. Added to Norwich diocese’s list in 2019. Included on Fall River diocese’s list in 2021.

Fr. J. Lawrence Ouimet. Suit filed in 2019 claiming Ouimet groomed and abused boy sometime before 1988. Named publicly as accused by diocese on its list in 2019. Died in 2002.

Fr. Joseph V. Owens. Admitted in 1992 to abusing minors from the 1970s to the 1990s. Worked in several countries, including the United States (CT from 1978-79, and FL from 1980-82). Named publicly as accused by Jesuits Northeast Province on its list in 2019. On Norwich 2019 diocese’s list.

Fr. Donald Petraitis. Accused of abusing a boy in the early 1960s in Norwich, CT. Petraitis denied the allegations. Died in 2012. Not included on the Norwich diocese’s list of 2019.

Fr. Paul A. Pinard. Worked in several countries, including Canada and the US from the 1960s through the 2000s. Removed from Norwich diocese in 2000. Died in 2017. On Norwich diocese’s list of 2019. On Edmundites list of 2019.

Fr. Bruno F. Primavera. Arrested in NM in 1990 for abuse and child porn and sentenced to four years in prison. Subject of multiple civil suits and one large settlement. Laicized. Died in 2006. On Norwich diocese’s list of 2019. On Hartford list of 2019.

Fr. John B. Ramsay. Priest of the Diocese of Norwich. Several allegations of inappropriate behavior in the years after his retirement in 1977 and after his death in 1994. Named publicly as accused by Hartford archdiocese on its list in 2019. On Norwich diocese’s list of 2019.

Fr. Thomas W. Shea. Accused in 2004 of molesting at least 16 girls in 11 parishes in the diocese over 30 years. Vatican refused to laicize in 2005. Died in 2006. Two suits settled in 2008. Included on diocese’s list in 2019.

Sister Seraphia. A member of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth (CSFN). Accused in 2019 of abusing a boy and at least two other students at St. Joseph’s in Norwich. The abuse allegedly included rape, physical abuse, and threats. Died in 2012.

Fr. Eugene Alphonse Solega. Accused in 2018 of abusing an altar boy four decades prior. Solega’s name was not included on Norwich diocese’s list in 2019. Died in 1985.

Fr. Patrick J. Sullivan. Accused in a 2002 civil suit of abusing a 15- to 16-year-old girl at St. Columba parish in 1968 and 1969. In 2003, a trial court dismissed some of the lawsuit. On Norwich diocese’s list in 2019. Laicized in 1970.

Fr. Paschal Thomas. Moved from India to the U.S. in 1959. Named publicly as accused by Norwich diocese on its list in 2019. Added to Conception Abbey Benedictine’s list in 2019. Died in 2015.

Did You Suffer Priest Abuse in Connecticut?

If you or someone you love was abused by a Connecticut priest or someone associated with the church, the experienced clergy sex abuse lawyers at Saunders & Walker P.A. may be able to help.  

Even if you were abused years or decades ago, you may still have a claim. The laws in Connecticut are very favorable to sexual abuse victims, and protections were expanded in 2019 to give survivors even more rights.

You don’t need to be able to provide physical evidence of the abuse, nor do you need to currently live in Connecticut to file a claim against a Connecticut clergy member who abused you. Your testimony will be key to proving your claim. If other victims of your abuser have also come forward to share their stories, this will also likely help your case.

You also may be able to file a claim on behalf of the sex abuse survivor if you are their parent, legal guardian, or conservator. A victim’s estate may also be able file a legal claim on behalf of the victim.

Our Connecticut clergy abuse attorneys can help you build your case. There is no substitute for sound legal advice when you have been the victim of past abuse by a trusted religious figure.

Contact us today at 1-800-748-7115 to speak to one of our experienced team members. We want to help you.

Sources:

1. https://www.ctpost.com/local/article/Report-Hartford-archdiocese-paid-50-6M-to-13551358.php
2. https://www.ctpost.com/local/article/Diocese-pays-out-3-55-million-in-abuse-13704026.php
3. https://ctexaminer.com/2023/01/18/diocese-of-norwich-to-set-aside-29-million-for-sexual-abuse-claims-creditors-survivors-still-to-agree/
4. https://www.bishop-accountability.org/dioceses/usa-ct-bridgeport/
5. https://www.bishop-accountability.org/dioceses/usa-ct-hartford/
6. https://www.bishop-accountability.org/dioceses/usa-ct-norwich/