Connecticut Diocese Settles Sexual Abuse Suits

The Bridgeport Diocese announced on Thursday a $21-million settlement with 40 people who said they were molested by priests as children, and the bishop publicly apologized to the victims.

It is believed to be the third-largest settlement by a U.S. diocese since the scandal that has rocked the Roman Catholic Church broke in Boston in 2002.

“Let me express my personal remorse and the remorse of the entire diocese for the harm that was caused in the lives of so many individuals,” Bishop William Lori said.

Lori said all but one of the 16 priests named in the settlement were no longer active in the church. The Rev. Martin Ryan was accused of misconduct with a 17-year-old woman 25 years ago and is not considered a threat to children, church officials said. Three of the priests are dead.

“This settlement represents vindication for all the survivors of clergy sex abuse,” said Cindy Robinson, an attorney representing the victims.

The settlement is the second in two years for the diocese, which covers some of the wealthiest towns in the country, including Greenwich, Westport and New Canaan. The diocese reached prior settlements totaling $16.7 million that involved 47 claims of sexual abuse.

Lori said most of the alleged abuse took place in the 1960s and 1970s. Attorneys for the victims, however, said the abuse continued into the early 1990s.