1,300 parishioners sue New York’s archdiocese for alleged SA. Then they reach a settlement that is the second-largest in US history
A seven-year fight.
The Archdiocese of New York reached a major agreement to pay $800 million to settle claims brought by 1,300 people who allege they were sexually abused by clergy and lay workers. The primary requirement for the deal is that every person who filed a claim has to sign off on the terms. According to the Associated Press, once concluded, it will stand as the second-largest settlement of its kind involving a Catholic archdiocese in the United States.
The parties involved reached a framework for this agreement back in May. Attorneys for the survivors announced the news, and Archbishop Ronald Hicks confirmed the development in an email sent to clergy recently.
It is important to note that while the agreement is in place, the end to the intense seven-year legal battle will not be legally final until both sides sign the paperwork. This formal signing is scheduled to occur during the week of November 6.
For many clients, there is a sense of relief over the legal struggle nearly ending
Jeff Anderson, an attorney who represents more than 250 of the plaintiffs and over 1,000 claims in total, spoke on the impact of this result. “The unanimous agreement of survivors who filed claims against the Archdiocese of New York marks a powerful moment in the pursuit of justice,” Anderson said. He added, “Through their courage, sacrifice, and determination, survivors have helped bring about a reckoning and a meaningful step toward accountability.”
According to Anderson, his clients are processing a complex mix of emotions. They feel sorrow regarding the abuse they endured, yet they also feel a sense of relief that the legal struggle has concluded. “The first is a real sense of relief and achievement,” Anderson said. He also noted the “belief that having stood up at least they have now a chance to move forward and have done something to protect others in the future and clean up the archdiocese of New York.”
Trusha Goffe, who works as an attorney in Anderson’s firm, also shared her thoughts on the resolution. “This is an extraordinary achievement for the survivors,” Goffe said. She stated, “The survivors remined (sic) resolute through years of litigation to reach this monumental settlement.”
About 2.5 million Catholics are a part of the Archdiocese of New York
It covers the boroughs of Manhattan, the Bronx, and Staten Island. The Archdiocese of New York also includes seven counties to the north of New York City. It is home to about 2.5 million Catholics, 300 churches, and more than 150 parochial schools.
To help fund this massive payment, the archdiocese has taken steps to raise money. In December 2025, the organization agreed to mediation and announced plans to sell some of its Manhattan properties. It also laid off staff members to help reach a goal of raising 300 million dollars to pay the survivors.
Archbishop Hicks addressed the clergy in his email regarding how to handle questions from church members. He advised them to say that much progress has been made. Hicks also expressed his hopes for the future of the church.
“We are on the verge of being able to, please God, bring some measure of healing and reconciliation to all victim-survivors,” he wrote. “This agreement will also 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.”
A 2019 New York law impacted the case
The legal landscape that made these lawsuits possible shifted due to a New York law passed in 2019. This law allows survivors of child sexual abuse to file claims against their abusers and the institutions that protected them until they reach the age of 55. For those who had already passed that age when the law went into effect, the state provided a window until August 2021 to file, regardless of when the alleged abuse took place.
This settlement follows a trend of massive financial agreements across the country. The largest settlement in history occurred in 2024 when the Archdiocese of Los Angeles agreed to pay $880 million to 1,000 victims. This was in addition to $740 million the archdiocese had already paid in previous claims.
Other notable cases include the Archdiocese of San Francisco, which reached a $395 million settlement in June involving 500 lawsuits. Additionally, in December 2025, a federal judge approved a deal where the Archdiocese of New Orleans agreed to pay at least $230 million to victims. The resolution in New York marks a turning point for the many individuals who spent years fighting for acknowledgment of their experiences.
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