Welcome | A Pledge to Protect

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Survivor and Witness Hotline: (833) 990-0004 • www.lighthouse-services.com/diobpt        Click to learn more ››

Retired Superior Court Judge Holzberg is conducting an investigation into clergy sexual abuse of minors and the Diocesan response to that abuse. In order to fully include the voices of survivors and others affected by this abuse in his report, his team has established toll free call in lines for any person who wishes to provide information related to past incidents of abuse or their experience with the Diocese in regards to such abuse. Survivors and witnesses are encouraged to report as follows:

ONLINE: www.lighthouse-services.com/diobpt

TOLL-FREE TELEPHONE:

  • English speaking USA and Canada: 833-990-0004
  • Spanish speaking USA and Canada: 800-216-1288
  • Spanish speaking Mexico: 01-800-681-5340<
  • French speaking Canada: 855-725-0002

E-MAIL: reports@lighthouse-services.com (must include Diocese of Bridgeport with report)
FAX: 215-689-3885 (must include Diocese of Bridgeport with report)

Once the contact is made either Judge Holzberg or one of his team will contact you directly.

When contacting the hotline, an individual may or may not choose to identify him or herself. However, anonymous reports involving sexual abuse of a minor significantly limit the ability to investigate a complaint and potentially prevent further harm to minors. We urge individuals to consider this when reaching out to the Judge and his team.

PLEASE NOTE THAT ANY NEW ALLEGATION OF SEXUAL ABUSE SHOULD BE REPORTED TO THE APPROPRIATE AUTHORITIES, INCLUDING YOUR LOCAL POLICE OR THE CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES (Care line 1-800-842-2288). IN ADDITION, THE DIOCESE OF BRIDGEPORT ENCOURAGES ALL SURVIVORS OF CLERGY ABUSE OF MINORS THAT HAVE NOT PREVIOUSLY REPORTED THIS ABUSE TO CONTACT THE DIOCESAN SAFE ENVIRONMENT OFFICE (203-650-3265 or 203-241-0987).

Reporting Sexual Misconduct by a US Bishop: 1 (800) 276-1562 • https://reportbishopabuse.org    Click to learn more ››

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Many words have been said regarding the crime of sexual abuse of minors and the scandals that these crimes have produced, words that are needed to express our grief, anger, and confusion. However, words alone are insufficient. The time for further action has come.

I have commissioned the creation of this website and will ensure that it is continuously updated to demonstrate that the Diocese of Bridgeport is transparent and fully accountable in its policies, programs, and response to the sexual abuse of minors.  This newly designed website brings together and updates information concerning diocesan Safe Environments efforts, its outreach to victims of clerical sexual abuse, and its comprehensive policies and practices to prevent future abuse and intervene immediately when allegations are brought forward.

The Diocese of Bridgeport can never fully make right the suffering of victims and the sins of the past, but we are committed to bringing healing and reconciliation to all those affected by the crisis and to rebuild trust through many of the spiritual and administrative measures described in these pages.

Permit me at this point to express my deep gratitude to all of you who have written or called the Catholic Center during the national crisis triggered by the news reports of the failure of the Church hierarchy to truthfully and effectively deal with sexual abuse and other issues. You have articulated your anger, concern, and demand for change, while also affirming your deep love for the Church, for the priests who serve you, and for the gift of the Eucharist in our lives and parish communities.

I ask you not to lose heart and to join me in showing support for the dedicated priests and lay faithful who serve throughout our diocese. With your virtuous witness and continued prayers, we can work together to strengthen our protection of our children, work towards healing, and promote a culture of accountability and transparency within the Church.

May the great Mother of God, our protector and intercessor, accompany us as we move forward to purify and renew our Church.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Most Reverend Frank J. Caggiano

The Diocese of Bridgeport is dedicated to ensuring the safety of all children in our Diocese. We pledge:

  • While we can never fully make right the suffering of victims and survivors and the sins of the past, we are committed to bringing healing and reconciliation in any way that we can.
  • We will always stand with you, listen to you, respect you, and accompany you with our prayers, resources, and commitment.
  • We are committed to working with you to continually evaluate and strengthen our efforts to create safe environments and to root out the crime and sin of sexual abuse.
  • We will never permit a member of the clergy with credible allegations of sexual abuse of a minor against him to remain in active ministry within the diocese or any other priestly ministry.
  • We will immediately remove a member of the clergy or any other Church worker from active ministry during an investigation into an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor.
  • We are grateful to the members of our Survivors/Victims group who have shown great courage, compassion and forgiveness in coming forward, sharing their experiences, healing others and working for reconciliation within the diocese.
  • We recognize that it is a privilege to hear an individual victim/survivor’s story and we consider this a sacred trust to be received with great care and pastoral concern.
  • We pledge to be transparent and accountable in decision making, financial practices, and protection of minors.
  • We will never permit a member of the clergy with credible allegations of sexual abuse of a minor against him to remain in active ministry within the diocese or any other priestly ministry.
  • We will immediately remove a member of the clergy or any other Church worker from active ministry during an investigation into an allegation of sexual misconduct with a minor.
  • The diocese holds itself accountable for addressing misconduct whenever we are made aware of it.
  • Any allegations of sexual abuse of a minor will be immediately reported to the state Department of Children and Families (DCF) or to the police.
  • We will continue the Diocese of Bridgeport’s strong track record of cooperation with law enforcement and civil authorities.
  • All priests, deacons, employees, and volunteers who interact with children will continue to be trained on how to spot signs of abuse and neglect through the VIRTUS program.
  • All priests, deacons and employees who are mandated reporters will inform authorities of suspicions and allegations of abuse.
  • We take very seriously all reported incidents of misconduct by members of the clergy or other Church workers, and the diocese will investigate even non-criminal misconduct with appropriate diligence.
  • We will not transfer a member of the clergy who is under investigation for misconduct.
  • Any member of the clergy who is credibly accused of sexual abuse of a minor will lose priestly faculties and will be permanently removed from all ministry.
  • We will adhere with diligence to all of our internal policies and procedures.
  • We will continue to strengthen our institutional training, screening, and monitoring of all clergy members, employees, and volunteers.
  • We believe that if we move forward in the solidarity of faith, a spirit of transparency and commitment to absolute accountability, we will renew the Church.
  • We will continue to uphold the teachings of the Church, especially in the areas of sexual morality, and will continue to enforce a strict, diligent and comprehensive screening process for all seminary applicants.
  • We will stand with the victims of sexual abuse and continue to accompany them with our prayers, resources, and commitment.
  • We will make this a defining moment by doing everything possible to root out the sin of sexual abuse and secrecy in our Church.
  • We are committed to fairly investigating any accusation against you. If the accusation proves to be false, we will defend your good name, including with legal resources if necessary.
  • We will honor your rights and ensure that due process is followed if you are ever accused of misconduct.
  • We will provide you with even better on-going formation, tools, and resources to ensure your physical, spiritual, and psychological well-being.
  • We will ensure that the continual evaluation process, while rigorous, is fair.
  • We will continue to provide honorable and trustworthy priests to oversee your formation.
  • You will be heard if you have a concern or complaint about a formator priest, professor, or brother seminarian.
  • We will do everything in our power to help you become the holy priests God called you to be.

Our track record here in the Diocese of Bridgeport

As we continue to respond to the national crisis and respond to the challenges in our own diocese, it is important that we not lose sight of the tremendous protections now in place. For over 15 years our Safe Environments programs have been effective in preventing abuse, encouraging early reporting and ensuring swift removal of perpetrators through the Diocesan Review Board process. In our Diocese, we have also established a Ministerial Advisory Committee, composed principally of lay members, to review allegations of adult misconduct on the part of clergy.

Outreach to victims of sexual abuse is a major commitment of the diocese in response to the trauma and suffering that they and their families have suffered. Most notably the diocese is blessed by an active Victims/Survivors group, which serves as a resource to the Safe Environment office and consults with the bishop on diocesan policies. Group members meet for friendship, prayer and peer support, and invite all victims of abuse to join them.  The Survivors/Victims group plans the yearly Mass of Hope, Healing and Reconciliation. Those interested in the many resources provided by the diocese can contact Erin Neil, L.C.S.W., director of Safe Environments and victim assistance coordinator at 203.650.3265 or eneil@diobpt.org.

In October of 2018, Bishop Caggiano commissioned a Financial Accountability Report that addresses amounts spent on settlements of past claims and includes sources from which the funds were obtained and other information on financial support of accused clergy.

The Diocese has also published an additional report that includes the names of all clergy on whose behalf settlements were reached regarding an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor. As a follow up to the Financial Report issued on November 1st, 2018, I determined that it is important and prudent to disclose the names of all clergy on whose behalf settlements were paid.

It is crucial to note that in some cases, a settlement may have been paid as a part of a larger global settlement or for strategic or administrative purposes without rendering a finding of credibility.

On October 3, 2018, I announced that retired Connecticut Superior Court Judge Robert L. Holzberg, who is a partner in the law firm of Pullman & Comley LLC of Hartford and Bridgeport, will serve as counsel and lead investigator for the Clerical Sexual Abuse Accountability Investigation being conducted for the Diocese of Bridgeport.

Judge Holzberg, who has extensive experience as an investigator, mediator and arbitrator, led the Accountability Investigation by overseeing a comprehensive analysis and review of claims of clerical sexual abuse of minors and  the Diocese’s response to allegations of alleged clergy abuse. As part of his investigation, Judge Holzberg had complete and unrestricted access to all Diocesan files, records and archives dating from 1953, when the Diocese was founded, to the present, and the opportunity to interview Diocesan clergy and administrators with information relevant to his inquiry.

Work on the Accountability Investigation began immediately and was completed on October 1st, 2019. Judge Holzberg directed a team of attorneys and investigators to conduct the investigation. Details on the Investigation, including archived updates, can be found here.

Results of the investigation were presented in a public report that addresses sexual abuse of minors by clergy in the Diocese of Bridgeport, along with the response of Church leadership to that abuse. It can be found here. The report also contains recommendations to the Bishop resulting from the review that the Bishop has committed to implement.

Accountability and Transparency

Accused Clerics

This list, first compiled in 2015, includes the names of accused Diocesan Clerics, accused Religious Order Priests, and accused visiting clergy who served in the Diocese of Bridgeport. You'll find their status, the location and dates of their diocesan assignments and ministries, the year of removal from ministry and/or laicization and date when the accused cleric was convicted where applicable. Last updated: Sept. 2019.

Accountability Investigation

Judge Robert L. Holzberg served as counsel and lead investigator for the Clerical Sexual Abuse Accountability Investigation, which reviewed a comprehensive analysis of claims of clerical sexual abuse of minors, the Diocese’s knowledge of such abuse and its response to allegations and information concerning the alleged abuse. Work began immediately and was completed on October 1, 2019.

Financial Accountability

On October 31, 2018 the Diocese of Bridgeport published the Financial Accountability Report. In the Accountability Report, the Diocese committed to provide annual updates to the report. This first update to the Accountability Report covers the period from November 1, 2018 through December 31, 2019.

Disclosure of Settlements Paid

This list includes the names of all clergy on whose behalf settlements were reached regarding an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor. It is crucial to note that in some cases, a settlement may have been paid as a part of a larger global settlement or for strategic or administrative purposes without rendering a finding of credibility.

Resources

“It is my desire to attack this evil in a variety of ways, starting with a series of spiritual initiatives and administrative actions. Our spiritual efforts focus on the grave need for the clergy to seek reparation for the past sins of those who have sinned and harmed innocent children and young people.”

— Bishop Frank J. Caggiano in his response to the sexual abuse crisis

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