UPDATE
May 21, 2025
The Diocese of Norwich Emerges from Chapter 11 Bankruptcy with Confirmation of Reorganization Plan
Hartford, CT — Today, the United States Bankruptcy Court in Hartford confirmed the Diocese of Norwich’s Joint Plan of Reorganization, marking the official emergence of The Norwich Roman Catholic Diocesan Corporation from chapter 11 bankruptcy. The Honorable Judge James J. Tancredi presided over the confirmation hearing, held on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., and approved the plan on the record at the hearing, subject to entry of an order confirming the plan to be submitted by the parties.
The confirmed Joint Plan was proposed by the Norwich Roman Catholic Diocesan Corporation; the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors, representing the interests of survivors, The Catholic Mutual Relief Society of America, and the Association of Parishes of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Norwich, Connecticut.
The Joint Plan establishes a settlement fund of approximately $31 million. This includes contributions from Diocesan assets and sale proceeds from Diocesan properties, non-debtor assets and properties, insurance contributions, and other contributions. Estate professionals in the bankruptcy case, along with Hon. Joan N. Feeney (Ret.) also agreed to a 10% reduction in allowed fees as a contribution to the settlement fund. The settlement fund provides equitable compensation to survivors of sexual abuse, acknowledging their profound pain and suffering and offers a path toward healing. The Joint Plan received near unanimous support from voting creditors and survivors, with virtually all voting survivors having executed releases.
Most Reverend Richard F. Reidy, Bishop of Norwich, offered the following statement:
“Today’s confirmation marks an important step toward justice and healing. We are deeply sorry for the pain suffered by survivors of sexual abuse. Our hope is that this settlement provides a fair measure of compensation and an opportunity for healing. We offer our sincere prayers for all survivors and remain steadfast in our commitment to ensure that such abuse can never happen again. With this plan confirmed, the Diocese is now able to continue its mission of Catholic service, ministry, and education across Eastern Connecticut.”
Ice Miller LLP and Robinson & Cole served as counsel for the Diocese of Norwich and GlassRatner Advisory & Capital Group LLC d/b/a B. Riley Advisory Services served as its financial advisor. They worked collaboratively on the Joint Plan with the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors represented by Zeisler & Zeisler, the Association of Parishes represented by Jones Walker, and The Catholic Mutual Relief Society of America represented by ArentFox Schiff.
This resolution allows the Diocese, parishes, and Catholic entities to move forward with clarity, accountability, and renewed dedication to their charitable and religious work throughout the community and provides an opportunity for healing to survivors.
Contact for Media Inquiries
Jamie Moss, newsPRos, 201.788.0142, jamie@newspros.com, PR Counsel, Attorneys for Debtor, Diocese of Norwich
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March 25, 2025
Seventh Amended Disclosure Statement
SEVENTH AMENDED JOINT DISCLOSURE STATEMENT FOR SEVENTH AMENDED JOINT CHAPTER 11 PLAN OF REORGANIZATION PROPOSED BY THE NORWICH ROMAN CATHOLIC DIOCESAN CORPORATION, THE OFFICIAL COMMITTEE OF UNSECURED CREDITORS, THE CATHOLIC MUTUAL RELIEF SOCIETY OF AMERICA, AND THE ASSOCIATION OF PARISHES OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF NORWICH, CONNECTICUT
Seventh Amended Plan
SEVENTH AMENDED JOINT CHAPTER 11 PLAN OF REORGANIZATION PROPOSED BY THE NORWICH ROMAN CATHOLIC DIOCESAN CORPORATION, THE OFFICIAL COMMITTEE OF UNSECURED CREDITORS, THE CATHOLIC MUTUAL RELIEF SOCIETY OF AMERICA, AND THE ASSOCIATION OF PARISHES OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF NORWICH, CONNECTICUT
DIOCESE OF NORWICH AND CLERGY SEXUAL ABUSE SURVIVORS REACH AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING COMPENSATION FUND FOR SURVIVORS AS DIOCESE SEEKS TO EXIT CHAPTER 11
Joint Statement from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Norwich, Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors, the Association of Parishes of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Norwich, and Catholic Mutual Relief Society of America
Norwich, CT, February 14, 2025– The Diocese of Norwich, the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors, the Association of Parishes, and Catholic Mutual Relief Society of America are pleased to announce jointly that they reached an agreement culminating in the filing of a Joint Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization to enable the Diocese and others to provide a meaningful recovery to survivors of sexual abuse and for the Diocese to emerge from bankruptcy and continue its mission.
After five full days of mediation with the Honorable Joan N. Feeney (Ret.), the parties reached an agreement on a $31 million compensation fund. The Joint Chapter 11 Plan was filed on Monday, February 10th, in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Hartford before the Honorable James J. Tancredi. The compensation fund draws from multiple sources, including contributions from the Diocese, Catholic Mutual, parishes, The Oceania Province of the Congregation of Christian Brothers, and Mount St. John, among others, with the goal of providing a meaningful recovery to those who have suffered abuse.
“The Diocese of Norwich has always sought a plan that would address the needs of survivors, and we believe that this plan does just that.” said Archbishop Christopher J. Coyne, the Archbishop of Hartford who has been serving as the Diocese’s Apostolic Administrator since the retirement of Bishop Michael R. Cote in September. “The deep pain and suffering endured by survivors can never be healed by financial compensation, but we are committed to making some amends through this process.”
The Joint Plan, which is subject to the approval of the Bankruptcy Court, provides for the creation of independent trusts that will oversee the distribution of funds to eligible survivors. The global settlement that comprises the Plan was reached after extensive negotiations and collaboration with the survivor group and other stakeholders.
Representatives of the survivors fully support the Plan of Reorganization and its confirmation. “While no amount of compensation can undo the harm that has been done, this settlement fund represents a meaningful and substantial step toward justice and healing for survivors,” said Stephen Kindseth of Zeisler & Zeisler, P.C., counsel for the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors. “We fought hard to maximize compensation for the survivors and believe that this plan accomplishes that goal.”
A hearing on the court’s approval of the Plan is expected to be held this spring. The hearing on the disclosure statement that describes and accompanies the Plan of Reorganization is scheduled for March 12th and 13th.
“All the estate professionals in the bankruptcy case have agreed to contribute 10% of their fees to the trust that are approved by the court.” said Louis T. DeLucia of Ice Miller LLP, co-counsel for the Diocese of Norwich along with Robinson+Cole. “All professionals in this case worked diligently to formulate a plan to provide survivors with a meaningful recovery and allow the Diocese to continue its important mission.”
Details of the Joint Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization can be found here
Docket No. 1881
Docket No. 1882
For further information, please contact: Jamie Moss, newsPRos, 201-788-0142; jamie@newspros.com