Archdiocese of Los Angeles Agrees to Pay $880 Million to Settle Sex Abuse Claims
SUMMARY
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles has agreed to pay $880 million to settle claims from 1,353 individuals who allege they were sexually abused as children, bringing its total payouts in such lawsuits to over $1.5 billion. The settlement, announced by both the archdiocese and the plaintiffs' lawyers, aims to provide some healing to the survivors. Archbishop José H. Gomez expressed deep remorse for the incidents and emphasized that the funds for the settlement would come from reserves, investments, and loans, ensuring that donations meant for parishes and schools would not be used. This agreement nearly concludes decades of litigation against the archdiocese, which has previously settled claims in 2007 for $660 million involving 508 victims. Attorney Michael Reck highlighted that while the settlement does not equate to full justice for the survivors, it offers a measure of accountability and closure.
