New York Archdiocese Agrees to $800 Million Clergy Abuse Settlement
Around 1,300 survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy have unanimously accepted an $800 million (€714 million) settlement with the Archdiocese of New York, bringing years of litigation closer to an end. Proposed by the archdiocese in May, the agreement is expected to be formally signed in early November.
Each claimant is expected to receive at least $250,000, according to The New York Times, with larger awards possible depending on the severity of the abuse. Jeff Anderson, an attorney representing survivors, described the vote as a significant step toward justice and accountability, while New York Archbishop Ronald Hicks said the agreement could provide some measure of healing and reconciliation.
The settlement ranks among the largest clergy sexual-abuse payouts in the United States. It is surpassed only by the $880 million agreement reached by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles in 2024. Before Hicks replaced Cardinal Timothy Dolan after being appointed by Pope Leo in December 2025, Dolan had begun establishing a separate $300 million fund to compensate abuse survivors.
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