Historic Settlement Follows Decades of Allegations Against Priests
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles has agreed to pay $880 million to 1,353 survivors of clergy sexual abuse, marking the largest settlement in U.S. history involving a Catholic archdiocese. This comes after years of litigation related to decades-old abuse cases. The settlement, announced Wednesday, brings the total payout by the Los Angeles Archdiocese to more than $1.5 billion after previous settlements in 2007.
Lawsuit Enabled by California’s Legal Changes
This historic settlement was made possible after California passed a law in 2020, opening a three-year window for victims to file lawsuits despite the expiration of the statute of limitations. This law has allowed hundreds of survivors to come forward with claims that had previously been barred.
The new settlement now awaits approval from all plaintiffs to be finalized, but it signals an end to most of the sexual abuse litigation faced by the largest archdiocese in the U.S. A few lawsuits, however, remain pending.
Lengthy Negotiations to Avoid Bankruptcy
Negotiations for the settlement took over a year and a half, according to lead plaintiff attorney Morgan Stewart. He emphasized the importance of securing fair compensation for the victims while ensuring the financial survival of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
“Our goal was to avoid the bankruptcy process that has impacted other dioceses across the country,” said Stewart. Several dioceses, including those in San Francisco and Oakland, have filed for bankruptcy as a result of the flood of lawsuits that followed similar extensions to the statute of limitations in other states.
Long-Standing Pain for Survivors
Many of the survivors involved in this lawsuit were abused decades ago. “These survivors have suffered for decades in the aftermath of the abuse,” said Stewart. “Many of them are aging, and dozens have passed away before they could see justice.” Stewart added that the settlement is crucial for bringing closure to both the victims and their families, many of whom have been living with the trauma for over 30 to 50 years.
Previous Settlements and Apology from the Church
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles previously paid $740 million in 2007 to settle similar abuse cases. With this new agreement, the total financial cost to the archdiocese surpasses $1.5 billion. Archbishop José H. Gomez issued an apology on behalf of the church, stating, “My hope is that this settlement will provide some measure of healing for what these men and women have suffered.”
The archbishop added that the funds for the settlement would come from church reserves, investments, and loans, with additional payments made by religious orders and other parties named in the lawsuits.
Hundreds of Accused Clergy Members
More than 300 clergy members from the Los Angeles Archdiocese have been accused of sexually abusing minors over the years. One notable case involved Michael Baker, a former priest convicted of child molestation. Church documents revealed that Baker admitted to molesting children as early as 1986, but he continued to serve in multiple parishes until his eventual removal in 2000.
Authorities believe that Baker, who was paroled in 2011, abused more than 40 children during his time as a priest.
