The sexual abuse survivors who filed claims in the Norwich Roman Catholic Diocese bankruptcy case have already endured immeasurable amounts of pain and suffering. They endured the abuse itself, along with the Catholic Church’s silence about the abuse at the hands of its priests. On top of that were the church’s efforts to minimize the abuse.

Yet the about 140 survivors were made to suffer again when their names became publicly available online for about 21 hours earlier this month. The names of victims, most of whom had previously been anonymous and who were supposed to remain anonymous by a court order, became available in federal court documents online.

Now, the victims have filed a class action lawsuit seeking $42 million in damages against Epiq Corporate Restructuring, the New York firm apparently responsible for the confidentiality breach. In addition, the diocese has filed a request with the court to replace Epiq with another firm to handle the case files.

“I’ve heard from many of them already that this is a re-traumatizing event,” New London attorney Kelly Reardon told The Day this week in reference to the abuse victims she is representing in the case. “A lot of these people have never told anybody they were abused.”

The diocese filed for bankruptcy in 2021 as it faced more than 60 lawsuits from men who say they were sexually abused as boys at the Mount Saint John Academy in Deep River, a diocese-run facility for troubled teens. In addition, 82 others with claims of sexual abuse have filed in the bankruptcy case.

As this fiasco is plaguing the victims directly, it also is playing out as the region deals with more bad news that grew out of the diocese bankruptcy case. The St. Bernard School community, including current students and their families, along with alumni from throughout the area, were rightfully deeply saddened and angered by recent news the Norwich Diocese plans to sell the Montville school and 113 acres on which it sits to help finance its proposed bankruptcy plan. The announcement left the future of the 67-year-old Catholic high school in doubt.

While a group of alumni has joined forces to try to buy the school and ensure its future as an educational institution, the diocesan plans to sell the property was yet another example of the extent of the mess caused by the church’s shameful actions in light of long-standing abuse allegations. The tentacles growing out of the abuse are long, indeed.

No action can ever erase the pain suffered by the sexual abuse victims. They were preyed upon as powerless children by those entrusted to protect them. The abusers were held in sacred esteem by the victims and their families.

The breach of confidentiality in this case is inexcusable. Diocesan officials and their representatives in this case must now make every effort to ensure no such re-traumatization again occurs as this case drags through the court system.

How much more pain will be inflicted? We sincerely hope the answer from here out is none.

The Day editorial board meets with political, business and community leaders to formulate editorial viewpoints. It is composed of President and Publisher Timothy Dwyer, Executive Editor Izaskun E. Larraneta, Owen Poole, copy editor, and Lisa McGinley, retired deputy managing editor. The board operates independently from The Day newsroom.