New York Archdiocese Nears $800 Million Deal to Resolve Abuse Claims
The Archdiocese of New York is close to finalising a settlement that would pay more than $800 million to 1,300 survivors of clergy and lay-leader sexual abuse.
After months of litigation, the Archdiocese of New York and the lawyers representing 1,300 abuse survivors are poised to seal a settlement exceeding $800 million, roughly $1 billion Singapore dollars. The plan guarantees each survivor a minimum lump-sum of $250,000, with the chance of higher compensation after an assessment of each case. While most claimants have accepted the terms, a small group of holdouts argued the offer fell short, prompting the archdiocese to secure an additional $20 million from its insurer to distribute among them.
The agreement also obliges the archdiocese to list all credibly accused clergy and lay leaders online and keep the roster updated. Similar large payouts have recently been reached by the Archdioceses of San Francisco and Los Angeles. The settlement aims to end a protracted legal battle that threatened the financial stability of the nation’s largest Catholic archdiocese.
Why it matters
The deal could end years of litigation and set a precedent for how large religious institutions address historic abuse.
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