The Archdiocese of Los Angeles has reached a monumental agreement to pay $880 million to more than 1,300 victims of sexual abuse by Catholic priests.
This settlement is described as the largest single child sex abuse settlement involving a Catholic archdiocese.
The resolution marks the culmination of 25 years of litigation against the most populous archdiocese in the United States.
Archbishop José H. Gomez expressed deep remorse, stating, “I am sorry for every one of these incidents, from the bottom of my heart.” He further added, “My hope is that this settlement will provide some measure of healing for what these men and women have suffered.”
The settlement will be funded through a combination of archdiocese investments, accumulated reserves, bank financing, and contributions from certain religious orders involved in the litigation.
This agreement follows previous settlements totaling $740 million, bringing the total payout to over $1.5 billion.
Attorney Morgan Stewart, who led the negotiations, emphasized the significance of this settlement, noting it as a step towards justice and accountability for the survivors who have endured decades of suffering.
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