New York Archdiocese reaches $800 million settlement with about 1,300 abuse survivors
Illustration: Press Pass USASurvivors of clergy sexual abuse have unanimously agreed to an $800 million settlement with the Archdiocese of New York, lawyers said Saturday, resolving claims brought by approximately 1,300 people in one of the largest payouts by a Catholic diocese in the United States.
The archdiocese agreed to the payment in May, Reuters reported, after more than seven years of litigation stemming from claims filed under New York's Child Victims Act, which temporarily opened a window for lawsuits over decades-old abuse. The settlement was finalized pending signed paperwork, with a formal signing expected in the week of November 6, according to reports.
Jeff Anderson, whose firm represents 300 survivors, called the unanimous agreement "a powerful moment in the pursuit of justice." Under terms described to The New York Times, each claimant would have the option of a lump-sum payment of at least $250,000, or potentially more after an assessment of the abuse suffered.
In an email to priests on Saturday, Archbishop Ronald Hicks wrote that the archdiocese is "on the verge of being able to, please God, bring some measure of healing and reconciliation to all victim-survivors," and said the agreement will let the archdiocese turn its full attention back to its mission of preaching the Gospel, healing the sick, caring for the poor and educating children.
The deal is second only to the $880 million settlement reached by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles in 2024. In addition to the payment, the archdiocese agreed to release documents pertaining to sexual offenders in the Church, and the settlement allows survivors to litigate against the Church's insurers for additional payouts — while avoiding a bankruptcy filing by the archdiocese.
Sources: Reuters (Oct 24, 2026); NPR (Oct 24, 2026); USA Today (Oct 25, 2026); The New York Times, first to report the agreement.
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