The Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles has entered into an $880 million settlement to resolve the claims of sexual abuse against more than 1,300 alleged victims, as reported by KTLA. This settlement represents the largest single payout in a child sex abuse case involving an archdiocese to date. In an announcement, Archbishop José H. Gomez conveyed apologies to the victims, stating, "I am sorry for every one of these incidents, from the bottom of my heart."
An agreement in principle has been reached for a global settlement for the remaining claims filed against the Archdiocese under California Assembly Bill 218 (AB 218). Read @archbishopgomez’s letter to our faith community: https://t.co/exMbsKAqRq pic.twitter.com/8b8MyLNU8e
— Archdiocese of LA (@lacatholics) October 16, 2024
According to information obtained from FOX LA, this agreement follows the enactment of Assembly Bill 218, legislation that created a temporary window allowing past claims to bypass the statute of limitations. Archbishop Gomez emphasized that the settlement will be compensated through the archdiocese's "reserves, investments and loans," ensuring that specific donations will not be utilized for this purpose. He shared a message of future vigilance, stating, "We will remain vigilant."
Attorney Morgan A. Stewart, representing the victims, highlighted the gravity of the settlement by stating, "The massive amount of this settlement reflects the amount of grievous harm done to vulnerable children and the decades of neglect, complicity and cover-up by the Archdiocese which allowed known serial predators to inflict this harm." Stewart's statement was echoed in a release reported by CBS News, where he urged other Catholic institutions to "meet their responsibilities and take accountability."
