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	Bridgeport Diocese out of Options: Open Abuse Files Hartford Courant November 5, 2009 http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/editorials/hc-diocese-abuse-release. art.artnov05,0,1950274.story The U.S. Supreme Court was the Catholic Diocese of Bridgeport's last hope. The diocese wanted the nation's highest court to hear its appeal of a Connecticut state court's decision to make public thousands of pages of files about sexual abuse by clergy. But the diocese acknowledged Monday that the court has decided not to hear its case. Barring some unforeseen intercession, the documents from 23 sexual abuse cases settled in 2001 will see daylight. Four newspapers including The Courant have been fighting for eight years to get the files unsealed. Next week, a status conference on how the material might be made public will be held at Superior Court in Waterbury. Release of the documents is a good and just outcome for the victims of abuse and their families. It could be a blessing for the diocese and the church at large, too, if it is seen as reinforcing the message that sexual abuse by clergy of all denominations will no longer be hidden and the abusers will no longer be protected.
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