Historic $880 Million Clergy Abuse Settlement by Archdiocese of Los Angeles Marks Largest in U.S. Catholic Church History
Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen
Publication (Outlet/Website): Personal SubStack
Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2025/03/29
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles made an enormous settlement of $880 million.
The immense settlement went to the 1,353 victims of clergy sexual abuse. Total payouts have been over $1.5 billion. As far as I can tell, this may be the largest payout for clergy-related sex abuses in history, which says many things: The extent of it, the cost of it, and the potential for a modicum of justice through recognition and financial restitution for survivors.
The settlement was announced on October, 2024, with claims ranging as far back as the 1950s. California law reopened the possibility for older abuse cases. Archbishop José H. Gomez expressed some sorrow, though some hope, that the settlement could provide some healing for victims, which is an apt response.
National Public Radio reported Dan McNevin, who leads the California chapter of SNAP, as saying, “They want to be praised, but I think they should not be praised for being forced to reckon with what amounts to an intentional cover-up. They are settling these cases because they’re afraid to expose these cases to juries.”
This was a lawsuit from decades of bad acts by clergy against laity. In this archdiocese alone, more than 300 priests have been accused. Most accusations tend to be true. The Catholic Church claimed to have implemented safeguards to prevent against future abuse.
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles has agreed to a historic $880 million settlement with 1,353 survivors of clergy sexual abuse, dating back to the 1940s. This marks the largest known Catholic diocese settlement in U.S. history. Combined with a previous payout, the total compensation exceeds $1.5 billion. While the Church expressed hope that the settlement brings healing, survivor advocates criticized it as a result of being forced to confront decades of intentional cover-ups. Over 300 priests in the archdiocese have been accused. The Church claims to have implemented safeguards to prevent future abuse.
The Forbes article by Siladitya Ray noted how the filings happened after California’s Assembly Bill 218 was enacted in 2019. Payouts to victims will be funded using reserves, investments, loans, and other Archdiocesan assets. No allegations relate to priests in current ministry, an important nuance.
Plaintiffs’ counsel note “there is justice in accountability.” Payouts begin 2025 to 2026.
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