New York Archdiocese Agrees to Pay $800 Million to Settle Sex Abuse Cases
The Archdiocese of New York has agreed to an $800 million settlement to resolve hundreds of clergy sex abuse claims. The deal is one of the largest in the history of the Catholic Church in the United States.
The Archdiocese of New York has agreed to pay $800 million to settle hundreds of clergy sex abuse cases, making it one of the largest such settlements in the history of the Catholic Church in the United States.
The agreement, announced in early May 2026, covers claims from survivors who say they were abused by priests and other church personnel over several decades. Attorneys for the survivors said the settlement reflects the scale of harm done to victims.
The New York settlement follows similar large payouts by dioceses in California, New Jersey, and other states. The Catholic Church in the United States has paid out more than $4 billion in abuse-related settlements since the early 2000s.
Church officials said the archdiocese remains committed to supporting survivors and to maintaining the safeguards put in place over the past two decades to protect children. The archdiocese did not admit wrongdoing as part of the settlement.
Survivor advocates said the financial resolution, while significant, does not fully address the need for accountability. Several advocacy groups called on the church to release the names of all clergy who have been credibly accused.
The settlement must still receive court approval. Funds will be distributed to claimants through a process overseen by a court-appointed administrator.
