The Archdiocese of New York is close to finalizing an $800 million settlement with roughly 1,300 people who accuse clergy members, lay leaders and teachers affiliated with the church of sexual abuse, according to the archdiocese and attorneys for the alleged victims.
In a letter to archdiocese priests on Saturday afternoon, Archbishop Ronald A. Hicks wrote that the agreement is set to be signed the first week of November. The New York Times first reported on the settlement. Per the source reporting from Gothamist, the deal would also help the church avoid bankruptcy.
“We are on the verge of being able to, please God, bring some measure of healing and reconciliation to all victim-survivors,” Hicks wrote. He added that the agreement would let the archdiocese “turn its full attention once again to its mission of preaching the Gospel, healing the sick, caring for the poor and needy, welcoming the stranger, and educating our children.”
The terms, as described by lawyers for the claimants, give each plaintiff a choice. Jeff Herman, whose firm represents about 260 of the alleged victims, said each can take a $250,000 “quick-pay” sum now, or have their case reviewed by a judge for a potentially larger payout later.
Herman also said the archdiocese will be required to publish and keep current a list of priests accused of sexual abuse, and to eventually release internal files about those priests. He declined to say more about what the files would contain. “For [my clients], it’s not just closure, it’s justice and vindication,” Herman said.
Jeff Anderson, whose firm represents 250 of the alleged victims, credited the survivors themselves. “Credit needs to be given to the courage of the survivors who stood upโฆ and who persisted pressing the archdiocese of New York for some real reckoning for the sins and the horrors of the past and an achievement collectively that will protect other kids in the future,” he said.
The scale of the institution at the center of the deal is considerable. According to the church’s website, the Archdiocese of New York was established in 1850 and has more than 300 parishes, with churches in the Bronx, Manhattan and Staten Island, serving 2.5 million parishioners in New York City.
The settlement is not yet signed, and the details so far come from the archbishop’s letter and the plaintiffs’ attorneys. If the November timeline holds, it would close one of the largest chapters of abuse litigation involving the church in New York, and it would put the archdiocese’s list of accused priests, along with eventual access to its internal files, on the public record.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the New York Archdiocese settlement for sexual abuse claims?
The proposed settlement totals $800 million and covers roughly 1,300 people who accuse clergy, lay leaders, and teachers of sexual abuse. The agreement is not yet signed, with signing expected the first week of November.
What options do abuse claimants have under the New York Archdiocese settlement?
Each claimant can take a $250,000 quick-pay sum now or have their case reviewed by a judge for a potentially larger payout later. The choice is described by attorney Jeff Herman, whose firm represents about 260 alleged victims.
Will the New York Archdiocese avoid bankruptcy with this settlement?
According to the source reporting cited in the article, the deal would help the church avoid bankruptcy. The settlement itself is still unsigned at the time of reporting.
What non-monetary terms are included in the New York Archdiocese abuse settlement?
The archdiocese would be required to publish and keep current a list of priests accused of sexual abuse and eventually release internal files about those priests. Attorney Jeff Herman declined to describe what the files would contain.
How many parishes and parishioners does the Archdiocese of New York have?
The Archdiocese of New York, established in 1850, has more than 300 parishes and serves 2.5 million parishioners in New York City. Its churches are located in the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island.
Leave a Comment