A Connecticut judge has ordered the release of thousands of documents connected to sexual abuse lawsuits involving Bridgeport's Roman Catholic Diocese.

A Waterbury Superior Court judge ruled Tuesday that the diocese should release the sealed documents by Dec. 1.

The files consist of more than 12,000 pages from lawsuits against six priests settled by the diocese in 2001. The U.S. Supreme Court last week refused to hear the diocese's appeal of a Connecticut Supreme Court decision ordering release of the documents.

The records include depositions, affidavits and motions that could shed light on how retired New York Cardinal Edward Egan handled the allegations when he was Bridgeport bishop.

The New York Times, The Boston Globe, The Washington Post and the Hartford Courant have asked to see the documents.