The Archdiocese of New York and attorneys representing approximately 1,300 survivors of clergy sexual abuse have agreed to an $800 million settlement, resolving more than seven years of litigation. Archbishop Ronald Hicks confirmed the agreement on Saturday in an email to clergy, with the formal signing scheduled for the week of November 6.
According to multiple reports, each of the approximately 1,300 victims will receive at least $250,000, with some receiving more depending on the severity of the abuse they suffered. The settlement is the second-largest involving a Catholic archdiocese in the United States, behind only the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, which agreed in 2024 to pay $880 million to approximately 1,000 abuse victims, in addition to $740 million in previous claims.
Jeff Anderson, an attorney representing survivors who filed more than 1,000 claims against the Catholic Church in New York state, described the agreement as "a powerful moment in the pursuit of justice." Trusha Goffe, another attorney in Anderson's firm, called it "an extraordinary achievement for the survivors," noting that they "remained resolute through years of litigation to reach this monumental settlement."
The agreement was initially negotiated in May and required unanimous approval from all survivors who filed claims. Beyond the monetary settlement, the archdiocese agreed to release documents pertaining to sexual offenders within the Church. The settlement also allows survivors to pursue additional compensation through litigation against the Church's insurers while avoiding bankruptcy proceedings for the archdiocese.
The Archdiocese of New York, which serves the Bronx, Manhattan, Staten Island, and seven counties north of New York City, is home to approximately 2.5 million Catholics and operates around 300 churches and more than 150 parochial schools. In his email to clergy, Hicks stated that the settlement would allow the archdiocese to "turn its full attention once again to its mission of preaching the Gospel, healing the sick, caring for the poor and needy, welcoming the stranger, and educating our children."
The settlement follows the enactment of a 2019 New York law that expanded the ability of survivors of child sexual abuse to bring civil lawsuits against their abusers and institutions accused of shielding them. The law initially allowed survivors to file claims until age 55, while those already older than 55 when it was enacted were given until August 2021 to file lawsuits, regardless of when the alleged abuse occurred. This legislation enabled thousands of people to pursue legal action over abuse that had occurred years or decades earlier.
The New York settlement is part of a broader wave of clergy abuse payouts across the United States. In June 2026, the Archdiocese of San Francisco agreed to a $395 million settlement covering approximately 500 lawsuits, and in December 2025, a federal judge approved a settlement in which the Archdiocese of New Orleans agreed to pay at least $230 million to survivors. The Catholic Church has paid billions of dollars in settlements across the U.S. in recent years as survivors have pursued legal action over abuse that often occurred decades ago.
