Story perspectives

NY Archdiocese Strikes $800M, Second-Largest Abuse Settlement

5/2/2026

Summary

Story summary

The Catholic Archdiocese of New York agreed to pay $800 million to 1,300 survivors, pending final documentation and survivor approval.
It ranks as the second-largest clergy-abuse settlement in the United States, trailing the $880 million Los Angeles agreement.
Mediation began in December before retired Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Daniel Buckley.
Attorneys Jeff Anderson and Mike Finnegan said the deal ends six years of litigation and lets survivors file additional claims against insurers.

History

Historical Context

After the 1998 Dallas diocese paid $30.9 million to abuse victims, the Boston Globe’s 2002 Spotlight series exposed systemic priest abuse, prompting the Boston archdiocese to settle for $85 million with 552 claimants in 2003. The precedent spurred massive payouts elsewhere, such as Los Angeles’ $660 million deal in 2007, pressuring dioceses nationwide to confront liability.

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Story summary

The Catholic Archdiocese of New York agreed to pay $800 million to 1,300 survivors, pending final documentation and survivor approval.
It ranks as the second-largest clergy-abuse settlement in the United States, trailing the $880 million Los Angeles agreement.
Mediation began in December before retired Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Daniel Buckley.
Attorneys Jeff Anderson and Mike Finnegan said the deal ends six years of litigation and lets survivors file additional claims against insurers.

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