The Archdiocese of Los Angeles has reached a historic $880 million settlement with 1,353 victims of clergy sexual abuse, making it the largest single child sex abuse settlement with a Catholic archdiocese. This brings the total payout by the archdiocese to more than $1.5 billion, as they had previously paid $740 million to victims. The settlement, reached after a year and a half of negotiations, still needs approval from all plaintiffs to be finalized.
The settlement marks an end to most sexual abuse litigation against the largest archdiocese in the United States, with only a few lawsuits still pending. California’s law allowing a three-year window for cases that exceed the statute of limitations led to this massive wave of litigation, impacting several archdioceses across the state.
The victims, who were abused decades ago, will finally receive some measure of compensation for the trauma they have endured. Archbishop José H. Gomez issued an apology, expressing hope that the settlement will bring healing. The archdiocese plans to pay for the settlement through various means, including reserves, investments, loans, and contributions from religious orders.
The church claims to have made significant changes to protect young people from abuse, implementing strict background checks and training programs. However, the settlement also requires the archdiocese to disclose more of the files documenting abuse by priests. Overall, the settlement represents a significant step towards accountability and justice for the victims of clergy sexual abuse in Los Angeles.
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