LOS ANGELES, CA. In one of the largest settlements related to clergy sexual abuse in U.S. history, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles has agreed to pay $880 million to 1,353 survivors who alleged they were sexually abused as children by Catholic priests. The settlement, announced on Wednesday, follows years of legal battles and is part of a broader reckoning for the Church over decades-old abuse claims.
Archbishop Jose H. Gomez expressed deep regret over the abuse, stating, “I am sorry for every one of these incidents, from the bottom of my heart. My hope is that this settlement will provide some measure of healing for what these men and women have suffered.”
The massive settlement comes after California enacted a law allowing survivors to file new lawsuits based on historical sexual abuse cases involving minors. The law has triggered a wave of claims across the state, leading multiple Catholic dioceses, including those in San Francisco, Oakland, and San Diego, to file for bankruptcy protection as they faced similar allegations.
Unlike those dioceses, the Los Angeles Archdiocese reached its settlement without seeking bankruptcy protection. According to Gomez, the Archdiocese will be able to cover the $880 million settlement using a combination of cash reserves, investments, loans, and contributions from other religious organizations named in the lawsuits. Gomez reassured the public that these payments would not impact the Archdiocese’s ongoing mission of “serving the poor and vulnerable in our communities.”
A joint statement from attorneys representing both the Archdiocese and the Plaintiffs’ Liaison Counsel thanked the survivors for their courage in coming forward. “While there is no amount of money that can replace what was taken from these 1,353 brave individuals who have suffered in silence for decades, there is justice in accountability,” the Plaintiffs’ Liaison Counsel emphasized.
The settlement is seen as a significant step toward closure for survivors, many of whom have spent years seeking recognition and justice for the abuses they endured as children. It also serves as a reminder of the long-lasting impact of the clergy sexual abuse crisis on victims and the Catholic Church alike.
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Gary P Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
