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	Court Documents Show 32 Child Sex Abuse Claims Related to 8 Molesters at Trumbull Parish Manly & Stewart November 24, 2009 http://www.manlystewart.com/news_singlestory/Court-Documents-Show-32-Child- Catholic Diocese Officials Won't Release Secret Files And Evidence They're Also Attempting To Seal All Abuse Records After 1973 Victims Attorneys Call Bridgeport "Network of Child Sexual Abusers," Demand Public Document Release In new court documents, the Diocese of Bridgeport admitted they have secret files detailing how a single parish housed at least eight molesting clergy tied to 32 child sex abuse claims. Despite the revelation, diocese officials recently filed a motion in an attempt to keep the files secret. The documents in question concern St. Theresa, a Trumbull parish where at least one civil sex abuse trial is pending. Documents filed by diocese lawyers state that they have documents chronicling eight molesting clergy who lived or worked there and the 32 sex abuse allegations against them. The revelation was contained in a motion asking the court to keep the records sealed, including all sex abuse claims after 1973. "This is a public safety nightmare," said J. Michael Reck of Manly and Stewart, New York City, an attorney for victims in the Bridgeport Diocese. "First, the Diocese went all the way to the Supreme Court to keep their files secret. Now, even though their own documents show that their parishes were networks of child sexual abusers, they don't think it's important to alert the communities of the danger." Reck represents the family of Michael Powel, a Connecticut man who was allegedly sexually abused at the parish between 1968 and 1972. According to the motion filed by the Diocese of Bridgeport, 23 of the sex abuse claims occurred after 1973 and, according to diocese lawyers, should be kept secret. The diocese also admitted that at least three of the claims were made after 1990. Reck believes that keeping such files secret is nothing more than an attempt to hinder any possible criminal prosecution and prevent other victims from coming forward. "The only right, Christian and ethical thing to do would be to release all of the documents, no matter when the abuse occurred," Reck said. Copies of the Diocese's motion are available upon request. Contact: J. Michael Reck, Manly and Stewart, New York City, attorney for victims, (714) 742-6593 Helen L. McGonigle, Esq, Brookfield, CT, attorney for victims, (203) 300-2107 Bartholomew J. Dalton, Dalton and Associates, Wilmington DE, attorney for victims, (302) 652-2050
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