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NY Archdiocese will soon settle $800M clergy sexual abuse claims
By
Arya Sundaram
Published Oct 24, 2026 at 6:31 p.m. ET
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By
Arya Sundaram
Published Oct 24, 2026 at 6:31 p.m. ET
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The Archdiocese of New York is close to finalizing an $800 million settlement agreement with 1,300 people who have accused the church’s clergy members, lay leaders, and teachers of sexual abuse, according to the archdiocese and lawyers of the alleged victims.
In a letter to archdiocese priests on Saturday afternoon, Archbishop Ronald A. Hicks said the deal is set to be signed the first week of November. The New York Times first reported on the settlement agreement.
“We are on the verge of being able to, please God, bring some measure of healing and reconciliation to all victim-survivors,” Hicks wrote. “This agreement will also allow the archdiocese to turn its full attention once again to its mission of preaching the Gospel, healing the sick, caring for the poor and needy, welcoming the stranger, and educating our children.”
The Archdiocese of New York was established in 1850 and has over 300 parishes throughout the state, with churches in the Bronx, Manhattan and Staten Island, serving 2.5 million parishioners in New York City, according to the church’s website.
“Credit needs to be given to the courage of the survivors who stood up… and who persisted pressing the archdiocese of New York for some real reckoning for the sins and the horrors of the past and an achievement collectively that will protect other kids in the future,” said Jeff Anderson, an attorney whose firm represents 250 of the alleged victims.
Jeff Herman, whose firm is representing about 260 of the alleged victims, said each of the plaintiffs can either elect to receive a $250,000 “quick-pay” sum now, or can have their case reviewed by a judge for a potentially larger payout later on.
He added that the archdiocese will be required to publish and keep current a list of priests accused of sexual abuse, and it will be required to eventually release internal files about the priests, but he declined to provide more information on what the files would entail.
“For [my clients], it’s not just closure, it’s justice and vindication,” Herman said in a settlement.
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Arya Sundaram
Arya is a reporter covering race and justice. Got a tip? Email: [email protected] or reach Arya on Signal at 512-650-8767.
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