The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles has agreed to pay $880 million to 1,353 individuals who were sexually abused as children by clergy members. This settlement is the largest involving a U.S. diocese and was reached through mediation following the enactment of a California law allowing new lawsuits based on past instances of abuse. The Archdiocese expressed sorrow for the abuse and Archbishop Jose H. Gomez apologized for the incidents. The settlement will not impact the Archdiocese’s ability to continue its mission of serving the community, as the funds will come from cash reserves, investments, loans, and contributions from other religious organizations named in lawsuits. Both the Archdiocese and the Plaintiffs’ Liaison Counsel issued a joint statement thanking survivors for sharing their stories and ensuring that similar abuse does not occur in the future. While acknowledging that no amount of money can fully compensate for the pain suffered by the victims, there is a sense of justice in holding the responsible parties accountable.
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Los Angeles Archdiocese Settles Sex Abuse Claims for $880M
