The Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles has agreed to a historic $880 million settlement to resolve over 1,300 sex abuse claims dating back to the 1940s.
Archbishop José H. Gomez expressed deep remorse, saying, "I am sorry for every one of these incidents, from the bottom of my heart. My hope is that this settlement will provide some measure of healing for what these men and women have suffered."
This settlement brings the total amount the Archdiocese has paid for sex abuse claims to nearly $1.5 billion, following a $660 million settlement in 2007 involving around 500 victims. The current settlement addresses claims revived under Assembly Bill 218, which temporarily lifted the statute of limitations for such cases.
"This is the largest single child sex abuse settlement with a Catholic archdiocese," said the victims' legal team.
Archbishop Gomez confirmed that the Archdiocese will use reserves, investments, loans, and other assets to fund the settlement. He assured the public that no donations to parishes, schools, or archdiocesan-wide campaigns will be used for this purpose.
Payments are expected to be completed in 2025 and 2026.
In his letter, Gomez emphasized that the Church will remain vigilant to prevent future harm to minors by ministry members.
Out of over 3,000 lawsuits filed in California under AB-218, around 1,600 were filed in Northern California, 500 in San Diego County, and 200 in Orange County. Some dioceses in the state have sought bankruptcy protection as a result.
The victims' attorney, Morgan A. Stewart, highlighted the magnitude of the settlement, noting that it reflects the grievous harm inflicted on vulnerable children and the decades of neglect and cover-up by the Archdiocese. Stewart also urged other religious institutions to take responsibility for their actions.
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