NEW YORK: The New York Catholic Church has reached a mediation-based settlement with over 1,300 victims of sexual abuse, marking what experts believe could be the largest financial scandal in the history of the U.S. Church.
The cases span from 1952 to 2020 and involve serious allegations of sexual abuse by priests and other church staff.
According to victims’ attorney Jeff Anderson, the New York Archdiocese has approved negotiations over a potentially substantial settlement in the coming two months.
The Church has acknowledged the need to raise $300 million for victim compensation. Measures have been taken to facilitate this, including staff reductions, cost-cutting initiatives, and putting Church properties up for sale.
Cardinal Timothy Dolan expressed deep remorse, stating, “This dark chapter in our history is a source of shame, and I apologize once again on behalf of the Church.”
Experts estimate that the total settlement could exceed $880 million, surpassing the amount paid to victims in the Los Angeles Archdiocese in 2024, which was overseen by the same judge now supervising the New York mediation.
The case is further complicated by the Church’s insurer, Chubb, which has refused to cover claims under decades-old policies related to sexual abuse.
According to legal experts, the Church has very limited options to avoid payment, as the case is shaping up to become one of the largest and most severe sexual abuse scandals involving a religious institution in U.S. history, with final resolution expected in the coming months.
