Archdiocese of New York agrees to $800 million settlement

The Archdiocese of New York has reached an $800 million settlement with attorneys representing approximately 1,300 people who reported sexual abuse by clergy. The agreement aims to resolve legal claims that have continued for more than seven years.

Archbishop Ronald Hicks informed clergy via email that the agreement is not final until the parties sign it, which is scheduled for the week of November 6. According to reports from The New York Times, the settlement framework includes a minimum one-time payment of $250,000 for each claimant, though amounts may increase based on the severity of each case. To reach a unanimous agreement among those who filed claims, the archdiocese negotiated an additional $20 million from an insurer to be distributed among remaining claimants.

As part of the settlement, the archdiocese will publish and maintain an updated list on its website of the names of clergy and lay leaders against whom there are credible accusations. This settlement may allow the archdiocese to avoid filing for bankruptcy.

This agreement is the second-largest settlement involving a Catholic archdiocese in the United States. It follows an $880 million settlement by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles in 2024.