Fr. Ivan Ferguson
Diocese of Norwich
Ordained: 1970
Incardinated into Archdiocese of Hartford: 1979
Removed: 1993
Died: 2002
Assigned as Follows:
- Auxiliary priest in Diocese of St. Joseph of the Amazon (Peru)
- Northwest Catholic High School (Hartford, CT)
- St. Bernard "in residence" (Tariffville, CT)
- St. Mary (Derby, CT)
- Academy of Our Lady of Mercy (Milford, CT)
- St. Matthew (Forestville, CT)
- Chaplain Hartford Hospital (Hartford, CT)
Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations against Fr. Ivan Ferguson:
Fr. Ivan Ferguson was ordained a priest in 1970, who served in the Diocese of Norwich. According to media reports, in 1993, he was accused in three civil suits of sexually abusing three male students while he was a chaplain at Northwest High School in Hartford, CT. The alleged abuse occurred at the school and during school events, and, in the case of one victim, outside of school activities. One suit was withdrawn and the other two were settled.
A New Milford man filed a lawsuit in 2007 against the Archdiocese of Hartford alleging that he was sexually abused by Fr. Ferguson beginning in 1977 when he was 16 years old. The abuse continued for one year, and it took place in a bedroom in the rectory of St. Bernard in Tariffville, CT. Ferguson silenced the alleged victim by threatening to fire his mother who the director of religious education for the church. Later in 2007, the alleged victim's two younger brothers filed two separate suits against the Archdiocese of Hartford claiming sexual abuse by Father Ferguson in 1977-1978. The younger brothers were 15 and 12 at the time, and Ferguson threatened to fire their mother if they revealed the abuse.
In 2008, lawsuits were filed by two former St. Mary's altar boys who allege that Fr. Ferguson sexually abuse them between 1981-1983 beginning when they were 13 years old. The alleged abuse involved viewing pornography, masturbation, oral sex, and sodomy. The incidents occurred during sleepovers at the rectory at a condominium in Fairfield, CT. One plaintiff was awarded a $1 million settlement in February 2012.
At least two claims against Father Ferguson were included in a $14 million settlement with the Archdiocese of Hartford involving 14 priests.
In 2019, Fr. Ferguson's name is listed on the Diocese of Norwich's list of credibly accused clergy under the heading, "priests who served in the Diocese of Norwich who had allegations in other places but not in the Diocese of Norwich."
The Archdiocese of Hartford publicly named Ferguson in 2019 on its list of clergy "who have been the objects of legal settlements or otherwise credibly accused of sexual abuse of a minor from 1953 to the present."
Fr. Ivan Ferguson died in 2002.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Diocese of Norwich in Connecticut. If you need a lawyer because you were sexually abused by a priest in Connecticut, contact our office today. In July 2021, the Norwich Diocese filed for federal bankruptcy protection. The Court will resolve all claims of sexual abuse in this process but strict filing deadlines will apply and no late claims will be considered, so contact us today. Our lawyers have decades of experience representing survivors of clergy sexual abuse in Connecticut and nationwide. We can help.
Contact us at 888-283-9922 or adam@adamhorowitzlaw.com to discuss your options today.