Archdiocese of New York Agrees to $800 Million Settlement with Abuse Survivors

The law provided a temporary window for people older than 55 to file claims. This window closed in August 2021. The Archdiocese of New York entered formal mediation in December 2025 to address 1,300 claims of abuse by clergy and lay workers. The resulting $800 million deal is the second-largest single payout by a U.S. Catholic archdiocese. The largest single settlement belongs to the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, which agreed to pay $880 million in October 2024. When combined with earlier lawsuits from 2007, the Los Angeles archdiocese has paid over $1.5 billion in lifetime settlements. Both agreements followed state laws that temporarily lifted statutes of limitations for decades-old claims.

1. An agreement resolves claims for approximately 1,300 parishioners who alleged sexual abuse. Attorney Jeff Anderson represents more than 250 of these plaintiffs and confirmed that all claimants accepted the terms. This deal ends litigation for the group.

2. The settlement allows the Archdiocese of New York to potentially avoid bankruptcy. Resolving these lawsuits through a structured agreement provides a path forward for the organization.

3. The settlement addresses abuse claims involving clergy members and lay workers. It provides resolution for victims of various forms of abuse.

4. The Archdiocese of New York has secured a path to finalize the deal. Archbishop Ronald Hicks confirmed the settlement in an email to clergy on October 24, 2026. The parties will sign the final agreement during the week of November 6, 2026.

1. The archdiocese implemented financial measures to fund a settlement. On December 1,2025, the institution announced plans to sell Manhattan properties and lay off staff to raise $300 million. These measures reflect the costs associated with abuse claims.

2. The $800 million settlement ranks as the second-largest of its kind in the US. The Archdiocese of Los Angeles reached a larger settlement in 2024 by agreeing to pay $880 million to 1,000 victims. The institution previously paid $740 million in settled claims.

3. A 2019 New York law enabled the legal action. This legislation allowed survivors to sue institutions until they turned 55. The law also created a temporary window for older survivors to file claims. This window closed in August 2021.

4. The settlement process remains ongoing until the final signatures are collected. The parties are scheduled to sign the agreement during the week of November 6, 2026. Until that date, the finalization of the $800 million payout is not final, Hicks said.