1.   And it has quietly paid off claims when priests abused children sexually.

2.   As in many Catholic dioceses, Bridgeport has been shaken by lawsuits alleging that priests sexually abused children in churches and schools.

3.   As in many Catholic dioceses, Bridgeport too has been shaken by lawsuits alleging that priests sexually abused children in churches and schools.

4.   But critics said that he had been more of a legal adversary than a pastor to parishioners who said they had been sexually abused by priests.

5.   Does celibacy somehow cause priests to abuse children?

6.   Former priest Michael Bland said he was a teen-ager when he was abused by a parish priest.

7.   It was unclear, he said, whether the church would take seriously allegations from adults who claim to have been abused by priests when they were children.

8.   Should any priest sexually abuse a child, he will be removed from pastoral ministry.

9.   Still, some Catholics seem reluctant to believe that priests could abuse children.

10.   Too many trusted priests have abused that authority to deceive parents and ingratiate themselves with children.