The Diocese of Bridgeport said it was disappointed that the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear its final petition asking the court to overturn a ruling by the Connecticut Supreme Court requiring the diocese to release documents from long-settled abuse cases. “We continue to believe that the constitutional issues presented, including the First Amendment rights of religious organizations and the privacy rights of all citizens, are significant and important for the court to consider,” the diocese said in a statement on Nov. 2. The diocese is now working with the Connecticut courts to assure the materials are “appropriately unsealed.” The decision means the diocese must release 12,000 pages of depositions, exhibits and legal arguments in 23 lawsuits involving six priests. Four newspapers had sued for access to the documents.