Archdiocese of LA reaches $880 million child abuse settlement with 1,353 people

Archbishop Jose H. Gomez of Los Angeles speaks here at the U.S. Bishops’ Conference in Baltimore in 2019. On Wednesday, he apologized for the harm caused by members of his church as he led the settlement of more than 1,300 child sexual abuse lawsuits announced. File photo by Bob Roller/CNS/UPI

“While there is no amount of money that can replace what was taken from these 1,353 brave people who suffered in silence for decades, justice lies in accountability,” the plaintiff’s liaison committee attorney said in a statement.

“We are grateful to the brave survivors who have come forward to hold those responsible accountable and protect the children of the future.”

The allegations of sexual abuse covered by the agreement date back decades, some as far back as the 1940s. Although not covered by the state’s statute of limitations, they were filed under House Bill 218, which established a three-year window from 2020 to 2022 that allowed victims to seek financial compensation for harm caused by sexual abuse.

The archbishop said it had been named in about 1,900 lawsuits alleging sexual misconduct by church clergy, religious and lay people.

The agreement, the archbishop said, concerns the remaining claims brought against him under the 2019 law.

Mediation to reach an agreement began in autumn 2023.

Archbishop José H. Gomez of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles apologized in a statement “for each and every one of these incidents” and expressed hope that the settlement “will bring some measure of healing to what these men and women have suffered.” .

In a letter to members of his church, Gomez said funds for the settlement would come from reserves, investments and loans, as well as church assets and payments from religious orders and those named in the lawsuit.

None of the money for the settlement will come from donations to parishes or schools or church collections and campaigns, he said.

Under the agreement, the plaintiffs will initiate proceedings outside the archdiocese to allocate the settlement funds.

“We thank the Archdiocese of Los Angeles for acknowledging its failures that enabled and perpetuated the harm inflicted on these children and remain hopeful that the Archdiocese will be vigilant in its efforts to prevent future abuses.” said the lawyer for the plaintiff’s liaison committee.

In 2007, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles agreed to pay $660 million to settle childhood sexual abuse claims to 508 people, which was the Roman Catholic Church’s largest payout at the time.