BRIDGEPORT (CT)
The Journal News
By GARY STERN
THE JOURNAL NEWS
(Original publication: October 17, 2003)
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — The Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgeport announced yesterday a $21 million settlement with 40 alleged victims of sexual abuse by 16 priests, its second major settlement in two years.
Most of the involved cases date back to the 1960s and 1970s. One is from the late 1980s and early 1990s, when now-Cardinal Edward Egan was bishop of Bridgeport. Lawyers for the alleged victims contend that Egan, who served as bishop from 1988 to 2000 and now heads the New York Archdiocese, allowed several of these priests to continue serving in parishes, despite knowing that they had been accused of abuse.
Egan was named as a defendant in three of seven cases related to the settlement.
Current Bridgeport Bishop William Lori, who succeeded Egan, stressed at a press conference yesterday at diocese headquarters that the diocese is committed to protecting children. He repeatedly apologized for past mistakes.
“Let me express my personal remorse and the remorse of the entire diocese for the harm that was caused to the lives of so many individuals,” he said. “I have become more and more aware of the damage that sexual abuse brings about in people’s lives. With all my heart, I apologize and ask for forgiveness.”
