Archdiocese of New York Agrees to 800 Million Dollar Settlement Over Clergy Abuse
The Archdiocese of New York reached an $800 million settlement on October 24, 2026, to resolve sexual abuse claims from roughly 1,300 survivors. The deal, the second-largest of its kind in U.S. history, covers allegations brought under New York's Child Victims Act. Formal signing is set for the week of November 6.
The Archdiocese of New York agreed on October 24, 2026, to pay $800 million to settle sexual abuse claims filed by approximately 1,300 survivors of clergy and lay leader misconduct.
Archbishop Ronald Hicks confirmed the agreement in an email to clergy, saying he hoped the settlement would offer "healing and reconciliation" to survivors and allow the Archdiocese to refocus on its religious and charitable work.
The deal ranks as the second-largest clergy abuse settlement in U.S. history, behind the $880 million agreement reached by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles in 2024. Claims were filed under New York's Child Victims Act of 2019, which opened a temporary window for older survivors to bring civil lawsuits.
Survivors can choose between a flat payment of $250,000 or an allocation process based on the specifics of their individual claims. Many plaintiffs are now in their 60s, 70s, and 80s.
To prepare for the payout, the Archdiocese had already undertaken cost-cutting measures, layoffs, and the sale of Manhattan properties. Formal signing of the agreement is scheduled for the week of November 6, 2026.
Attorneys for the plaintiffs said the settlement will not erase the trauma survivors experienced, but called it a significant step toward accountability.
