US Catholic Archdiocese to Pay $395M to Child Sex Abuse Victims

The Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco has reached an agreement in principle to pay $395 million to settle over 500 child sex abuse lawsuits, as part of its Chapter 11 bankruptcy case. The proposed settlement includes Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone writing an apology letter to each survivor and the archdiocese implementing child-protection reforms. This agreement is the latest in a series of large payouts by US Catholic dioceses addressing historical abuse claims, following similar cases in Los Angeles and Brooklyn.

• The Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco has agreed to a $395 million settlement to resolve over 500 child sex abuse lawsuits.
• The settlement is tied to the archdiocese’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy case and will cover claims revived under California Assembly Bill 218.
• Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone will write apology letters to each survivor.
• The archdiocese must implement child-protection reforms, including publishing a list of accused clergy and banning confidentiality agreements.
• Parishes, schools, and related entities will contribute to the settlement, excluding donor-restricted donations and annual appeal funds.
• This settlement is one of the largest in a wave of payouts by US Catholic dioceses for historical abuse claims.