In a historic settlement, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles has agreed to pay $880 million to 1,353 survivors of clergy abuse, marking the largest single payout by a U.S. diocese. Announced by Archbishop Jose Gomez, the agreement aims to “provide some measure of healing” for victims, who endured decades of abuse and neglect from church leaders. This settlement brings the archdiocese’s total payout for abuse cases to over $1.5 billion.
The case’s staggering sum reflects the trauma and alleged cover-ups, with reports claiming that more than 300 priests across the diocese’s nearly 300 parishes abused minors while church leaders ignored or concealed their actions. Attorney Morgan Stewart, who represented many survivors, emphasized the urgency, noting, “These survivors have suffered for decades, and many are aging.” She highlighted the need to avoid bankruptcy to secure fair compensation, as other California dioceses have filed bankruptcy to limit survivors’ rights.
Though some advocates see the settlement as a step toward justice, groups like the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests argue it’s only the beginning. They call on the archdiocese to release all abuse-related files, as advocates believe “many more survivors” remain in silence.
