The Archdiocese of Los Angeles has agreed to pay $880 million to victims of clergy sexual abuse dating back decades, marking the largest single child sex abuse settlement with a Catholic archdiocese. This settlement brings the total payout by the archdiocese for clergy sexual abuse victims to over $1.5 billion. Archbishop José H. Gomez expressed his regret for the incidents that took place, emphasizing his hope that the settlement will bring some healing to the survivors of abuse. Attorneys for the 1,353 individuals who suffered abuse at the hands of local Catholic priests reached this agreement after months of negotiations, ending a quarter-century of litigation against the most populous archdiocese in the United States.
The Plaintiffs’ Liaison Committee stated that while there is no amount of money that can fully compensate the survivors for their suffering, there is justice in holding the archdiocese accountable. Under the terms of the settlement, the plaintiffs will work independently to allocate the settlement amount among the participants, without the involvement of the archdiocese. The settlement will be funded by archdiocese investments, accumulated reserves, bank financing, and other assets. Additionally, certain religious orders and others implicated in the litigation will also contribute to covering some of the settlement costs.
Attorney Morgan Stewart, who led the negotiations, emphasized that the survivors of clergy sexual abuse have suffered for decades and that it was time to reach a resolution. She highlighted that many survivors have passed away, and aging survivors and those with knowledge of the abuse within the church are also growing older. Stewart stated that the settlement serves as a critical step towards providing justice and closure for the survivors. The Archdiocese of Los Angeles had previously paid $740 million to victims in various settlements and had made commitments to protect its members better, further underscoring the significance of this latest settlement.
The agreement in principle unveiled a long-standing pattern of abuse within the archdiocese, reflecting the deep-rooted issue of clergy sexual abuse in the Catholic Church. Archbishop Gomez’s apology for the incidents and his acknowledgment of the suffering endured by the survivor-victims serve as an initial step towards acknowledging and addressing the historical systemic abuses that have plagued the church. The settlement provides a pathway for survivor-victims to seek accountability and restitution for the trauma inflicted upon them by clergy members.
This landmark settlement underscores the urgent need for the Catholic Church to prioritize the safety and well-being of its members and to address the scourge of clergy sexual abuse through transparency, accountability, and meaningful reforms. The substantial financial compensation recognizes the profound impact of abuse on survivor-victims and aims to provide a measure of justice and healing for the harm caused. Moving forward, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and the wider Catholic Church must prioritize the protection of vulnerable individuals and work towards fostering a culture of safety, compassion, and integrity to prevent future instances of clergy sexual abuse.
