Timeline: The Carr File

Hartford Courant
[March 17, 2002]

http://www.ctnow.com/news/specials/hc-carrtimeline0317,1,456624.story?coll=hc-headlines-home

[See also Egan Protected Abusive Priests, the main article of this feature, with links to related articles.]

Compiled by The Courant from sealed court documents

May 10, 1980: Charles Carr ordained, assigned to Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Wilton.

Spring 1982: Mother of 11-year-old boy says Carr molested her son in Our Lady of Fatima parking lot (she details the incident in a letter seven years later).

June 21, 1984: Carr appointed to faculty of Immaculate High School in Danbury, living at St. Mary's rectory in Bethel.

August 1984: Father of 14-year-old altar boy at St. Mary's says Carr rubbed his son's leg in movie theater; Carr referred for therapy.

Sept. 20, 1984: Carr transferred from St. Mary's to St. Thomas the Apostle in Norwalk; appointed parochial vicar.

July 1986: Carr appointed to faculty of Notre Dame Catholic High School in Fairfield.

June 1989: Bishop Edward M. Egan transfers Carr to Central Catholic High School in Norwalk; Carr named spiritual director for boys.

Oct. 19, 1989: Mother writes letter to Diocese of Bridgeport, detailing 1982 complaint that her son was molested by Carr at Our Lady of Fatima.

Nov. 17, 1989: Egan briefed by aide about counseling program for Carr.

December 1989: Egan meets with Carr, then writes that Carr denied all charges but was “most cordial and understanding” about staying in therapy.

Jan. 10, 1990: Carr sent to Institute of Living in Hartford for evaluation, then returns to Central Catholic High School.

April 3, 1990: A different parent complains that Carr rubbed his son's leg in a movie theater while Carr was serving at Our Lady of Fatima in 1981; Egan aide notified of complaint.

April 9, 1990: Institute of Living advises diocese to take action “to protect both Father Carr and the public from the possibility of lapses in his judgement [sic] and behavior in the future.”

April 16, 1990: Diocese puts Carr on indefinite leave from job as spiritual director of Central Catholic High School in Norwalk.

April 23, 1990: Carr returns to Institute of Living for in-patient evaluation.

May 3, 1990: Egan aide writes of “developing pattern of allegations” against Carr.

June 29, 1990: Egan appoints Carr parochial vicar of St. Philip in Norwalk; restricts Carr from working with children.

June 20, 1991: Egan appoints Carr parochial vicar of St. Andrew Parish in Bridgeport; restrictions lifted.

Jan. 8, 1993: Former altar boy, now 23, repeats claim Carr molested him at St. Mary's in 1984 and questions why Carr is still an active priest; diocese responds that it is “reasonably satisfied” Carr is no longer a threat.

March 30, 1995: Civil lawsuit filed by another person accusing Carr of sex abuse; Egan puts Carr on indefinite leave and removes him from St. Andrew.

March 2001: Diocese settles civil suits, acknowledging unspecified incidents and apologizing for them.