HARTFORD, Conn. — Duane Gray has come forward to share his painful experiences of sexual abuse he endured as a child at the hands of a local priest, beginning in 1974 when he was only 12 years old. Initially, he confided in his parents about the abuse; however, they did not believe his claims, leading to severe consequences that included physical abuse and eventual expulsion from their home when he turned 16. This left him homeless, forced to live in the woods for a period.

At 62 years old, Gray decided to publicly address his past in hopes of finding personal healing and aiding other victims of clergy sexual abuse. Recently, he disclosed that he had reached a settlement in the six-figure range with the Archdiocese of Hartford regarding allegations against the late Rev. Daniel McSheffery, who passed away in 2014. “Being able to talk about it, being able to have a resolution in my case meant everything,” Gray stated during a video conference alongside his attorney and members of the media. He emphasized the importance of preventing similar abuse from occurring, opting to bring light to the issue rather than allowing it to be concealed by financial settlements.

In response, a spokesman for the archdiocese, David Elliott, reiterated the organization’s policy of refraining from discussing specific allegations or settlements. He emphasized their ongoing commitment to working with victims of clergy sexual abuse and their families to facilitate lasting healing. Archbishop Christopher Coyne and his team aspire to make churches safe environments for children and families, with efforts aligned to ensure such abuses do not happen again.

Gray recounted that the abuse took place at St. George Church in Guilford over a span of two years before he could escape around 1976. While he refrained from detailing the individual incidents, he indicated the gravity of his trauma. In 2019, the Archdiocese of Hartford revealed they had paid over $50 million to resolve 142 claims of sexual abuse involving 32 clergy members. Reports indicated that McSheffery had faced 20 claims, leading to nearly $11 million in settlements.

McSheffery, ordained in 1956, was removed from ministry in 2002 and is included on the archdiocesan list of priests credibly accused of sexually abusing minors dating back to 1953. Gray, like many other survivors, accused the church of concealing these abuses and prioritizing the protection of accused clergy over the welfare of victims.

Recalling his experience, Gray stated he resisted McSheffery during his final attempt at abuse, only for a different priest to later contact his parents falsely accusing him of assault and theft. His parents, who held deep religious convictions, dismissed his account of the abuse. Gray described his life spiraling into turmoil, characterized by regular beatings and being forced to sleep in a tent in the woods while still attending school.

After securing a tent near home, Gray returned from school one day to find his belongings taken by municipal officials clearing the area of homeless encampments. Fortunately, a friend’s mother opened her home to him, helping him escape some of the hardship. Yet, as he struggled with trauma, he turned to drugs and alcohol as coping mechanisms, leading to destructive behavior.

Eventually relocating to Florida after high school, Gray sought to rebuild his life and worked for nine years as an agent confronting drug and money laundering. Upon returning to Connecticut to care for his ailing father, he was met with grief when his father died just before his arrival, followed by the illness and subsequent death of his mother.

Years later, Gray discovered that his younger brother had also been a victim of McSheffery during their time as altar boys at the church. His brother also received a settlement from the archdiocese, leaving Gray with feelings of guilt for not being able to protect him, a burden compounded by the brother’s passing in 2014.

Gray has previously shared his story, including his testimony in 2019 advocating for the elimination of the statute of limitations regarding serious sexual crimes. Recently, he continued to champion this cause during his disclosures.

His attorney, Mitchell Garabedian, known for representing numerous clergy abuse victims, has called on Archbishop Coyne to support the abolition of the statute of limitations for abuse-related lawsuits and to clarify the archdiocese’s current protective measures for children.

In 2002, Connecticut law revised the statute of limitations for minors to pursue lawsuits, extending the deadline to when they reach age 48. While Gray’s claims fell outside this timeline, he successfully negotiated a settlement through mediation.

Currently, Gray is contemplating how to utilize his settlement funds, expressing a desire to assist other abuse survivors. Reflecting on his turbulent past, he described his experiences as surreal. “I was young, not fully developed or mature,” Gray commented, noting how the shocking revelations forced him to grow up drastically and rapidly. “I wouldn’t wish that on anyone,” he added.