Archdiocese of Los Angeles Agrees to $880M Settlement in Sex Abuse Claims

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles has reached an $880 million settlement with 1,353 individuals who alleged they were sexually abused by priests, marking the largest payout by a U.S. diocese in response to decades-old claims of abuse.

Archbishop José H. Gomez expressed deep sorrow for the victims, stating, “I am sorry for every one of these incidents, from the bottom of my heart.” He also hoped the settlement would offer some healing for those who suffered.

The settlement follows months of negotiations after a California law allowed new lawsuits over past cases of child sexual abuse. Attorneys for the victims described the abuse as horrific, and the settlement concludes 25 years of litigation against the largest U.S. archdiocese. Prior settlements had already cost the Los Angeles Archdiocese $740 million, bringing the total compensation to over $1.5 billion.

Unlike several other dioceses in California, such as San Francisco and San Diego, which have filed for bankruptcy to manage similar claims, the Los Angeles Archdiocese did not declare bankruptcy. Instead, it will cover the payments using cash reserves, investments, loans, and contributions from religious organizations involved in lawsuits.

While no amount of money can undo the harm caused, attorneys on both sides issued a joint statement thanking survivors for coming forward and ensuring that steps are taken to prevent future abuse.

The Catholic Church has been repeatedly shaken by sexual abuse scandals globally, particularly since the Boston Globe’s 2002 investigation into the widespread abuse and cover-up in the Boston diocese, which inspired the Oscar-winning film *Spotlight*. In the U.S. alone, more than 11,000 complaints have been filed against clergy, leading to hundreds of millions of dollars in settlements.