An attorney for the Diocese of Norwich (Conn.) told a federal bankruptcy court judge on Wednesday that it expects to file a proposed bankruptcy plan by April 1 to resolve claims by at least 70 people who say they were sexually assaulted by priests and employees affiliated with the diocese, The Day reported. During the remote hearing before Judge James Tancredi, attorneys for both the Roman Catholic diocese and the committee that represents the claimants also agreed to a plan that temporarily would limit the large sums of money being spent by the diocese on legal and financial services fees. Over the past few months attorneys for the alleged victims — as well as Tancredi — have expressed concern that the millions of dollars in fees will reduce the money that eventually will be available to distribute to the victims. The diocese filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy in July as it faced more than 60 lawsuits filed by young men who charge they were sexually assaulted as boys by Christian Brothers and other staff at the diocese-run Mount Saint John Academy in Deep River from 1990 to 2002. Mount Saint John was a residential school for troubled boys whose board of directors was headed by retired Bishop of Norwich Daniel Reilly. Since then, additional people whose sexual assault allegations involved not only Mount Saint John but diocesan churches have filed claims in the bankruptcy case. Victims have until March 15, 2022, to file claims.
