The Archdiocese of New York is on the verge of finalizing an $800 million settlement with roughly 1,300 people who say they were sexually abused by clergy members, lay leaders and teachers tied to the church, according to the archdiocese and lawyers for the alleged victims. The New York Times first reported on the agreement, and the figures here come from Gothamist’s reporting on it.
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. “We are on the verge of being able to, please God, bring some measure of healing and reconciliation to all victim-survivors,” Hicks wrote. He added that the agreement would let the archdiocese turn its full attention back to its mission of preaching the Gospel, healing the sick, caring for the poor and needy, welcoming the stranger, and educating children.
The terms, as described by one of the plaintiffs’ attorneys, give each claimant a choice. Jeff Herman, whose firm represents about 260 of the alleged victims, said plaintiffs can take a $250,000 “quick-pay” sum now, or have their case reviewed by a judge for a potentially larger payout later on.
Herman also said the archdiocese will be required to publish and keep current a list of priests accused of sexual abuse. It will also be required to eventually release internal files about those priests, though he declined to say what the files would include. “For [my clients], it’s not just closure, it’s justice and vindication,” Herman said.
Jeff Anderson, whose firm represents 250 of the alleged victims, credited the survivors for pushing the church to answer for its past. “Credit needs to be given to the courage of the survivors who stood upโฆ 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,” he said.
The archdiocese was established in 1850. According to the church’s website, it has more than 300 parishes across the state, with churches in the Bronx, Manhattan and Staten Island, and serves 2.5 million parishioners in New York City.
The settlement is not signed yet. With the signing slated for the first week of November, the next few days are when the terms Hicks and the lawyers have described either get locked in or don’t.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the New York Archdiocese settlement for abuse claims?
The settlement totals about $800 million and covers roughly 1,300 people who say they were sexually abused by clergy, lay leaders and teachers tied to the church. The deal is not yet signed, with signing expected the first week of November.
What choice do abuse claimants have under the New York Archdiocese settlement?
Claimants can accept a $250,000 “quick-pay” sum now, or have their case reviewed by a judge for a potentially larger payout later. This was described by attorney Jeff Herman, whose firm represents about 260 of the alleged victims.
When will the New York Archdiocese abuse settlement be signed?
Archbishop Ronald A. Hicks said in a letter to priests that the deal is set to be signed the first week of November. The settlement is not signed yet as of the reporting.
What does the New York Archdiocese settlement require besides payments?
The archdiocese must publish and keep current a list of priests accused of sexual abuse, and it must eventually release internal files about those priests. Attorney Jeff Herman declined to say what the files would include.
Who represents the alleged victims in the New York Archdiocese abuse settlement?
Jeff Herman’s firm represents about 260 of the alleged victims, and Jeff Anderson’s firm represents 250 of them. The archdiocese, established in 1850, serves 2.5 million parishioners in New York City.
Leave a Comment