The Archdiocese of Los Angeles recently agreed to pay $880 million to compensate 1,353 victims of sexual abuse by clergy, marking the largest settlement sum ever recorded by the Catholic Church. The announcement was made amidst a mass ceremony at the Los Angeles Cathedral.
Los Angeles Archbishop José H. Gomez expressed his heartfelt apologies to all those affected when he revealed the “principled” agreement. He stated, “I hope this settlement will help heal the women and men who have suffered. I believe we have addressed the cries for justice and fairly compensated those who endured abuse and survived.”
According to the Los Angeles Times, attorneys representing the 1,353 victims negotiated with the archdiocese’s leadership for several months to reach this settlement. This agreement effectively concludes 25 years of continuous legal challenges faced by the largest Catholic diocese in the United States.
In a joint statement, the plaintiffs’ attorneys acknowledged that no amount of money could fully rectify the decades of pain endured by these brave men and women, but emphasized that accountability has finally been achieved.
As part of the agreement, the distribution of the compensation will be coordinated by the victims themselves, with the archdiocese taking a step back from this process.
The Times further noted that the Archdiocese of Los Angeles had previously paid $740 million to settle earlier cases, and with this recent settlement, the total compensation related to clergy misconduct now exceeds $1.5 billion.
Morgan Stewart, the lead negotiator for the plaintiffs’ legal team, remarked that the $880 million settlement is the largest amount offered by any Catholic archdiocese in cases of child sexual abuse. He reflected, “These survivors have suffered for decades after their abuse—many have died, and those who remain have aged. It’s time for this issue to be resolved.”
The settlement funds will be sourced from the archdiocese’s investment assets, accumulated reserves, and bank loans. Certain orders, groups, or individuals mentioned in the lawsuit will also share the burden of the compensation amount.
