Most of our readers in Connecticut are probably familiar with the child sex scandals that have been rocking the Catholic church for years. However, what some of our readers may not realize is that this worldwide news story has recently hit close to home.
In response to sex abuse lawsuits filed by five men, the Roman Catholic Diocese has settled these cases in Connecticut. The five men had alleged in their claims that they were the victims of sex abuse in the 1970s and 1980s, specifically pointing to the actions of four priests. Those four priests have died since the allegations surfaced.
Although the amount of the settlements are confidential, these were not the first sex abuse claims that were pursued in Connecticut. In fact, the law firm that represented the five plaintiffs in these most recent cases had filed over 30 other claims as well. Many of those cases have also been settled, with a total amount of compensation being awarded in excess of $30 million. In those cases, in all, 29 priests were the subject of lawsuits, with allegations involving 64 people.
Many people throughout the country carry the burden of misplaced guilt when they are the victim of sexual abuse. For children who suffer this type of abuse, it can change the trajectory of their entire lives, especially when the abuser was in a position of trust. Connecticut residents need to know that when they are the victim of sexual abuse it may be possible to pursue compensation. These cases can oftentimes result in a confidential settlement, but some may need to proceed to a trial.
Source: ctpost.com, “Diocese settles sex abuse claims,” Daniel Tepfer, June 5, 2017
