The Archdiocese of New York announced it has reached an agreement to pay $800 million to settle sexual abuse claims brought by roughly 1,300 plaintiffs. According to attorney Jeff Anderson, whose firm represents more than 250 of the claimants, the settlement terms have been finalized pending execution of formal documentation, with all plaintiffs having consented to the agreement.
Archbishop Ronald Hicks communicated the settlement to priests of the archdiocese in a statement, characterizing it as a step toward healing. He emphasized that the agreement had been reached with plaintiffs and their legal representatives, though final signatures remained outstanding at the time of his message. The archbishop indicated the settlement would enable the church to redirect its focus toward its core mission and pastoral responsibilities.
Attorney Anderson described varied reactions among his clients, noting they experienced both grief regarding the abuse they suffered and a sense of accomplishment at resolving the legal dispute. He characterized the settlement as providing his clients with an opportunity to move forward and contributing to institutional reform within the archdiocese.
This settlement ranks among the largest related to sexual abuse claims within the Catholic Church. The Archdiocese of Los Angeles reached an $880 million settlement in 2024 to address similar allegations. Earlier, in December 2025, the Archdiocese of New York agreed to pursue mediation for the pending claims and announced staffing reductions and property sales to generate approximately $300 million toward victim compensation.
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