In a landmark decision, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles has agreed to a historic $880 million settlement to resolve over 1,300 claims of childhood sexual abuse.
This settlement is being recognized as the largest single child sexual abuse settlement by a Catholic archdiocese in history, highlighting the extensive scope of the allegations that span decades.
The agreement follows the enactment of California Assembly Bill 218, which opened a three-year window for victims to revive past civil claims related to sexual abuse involving minors.
Some claims date back to the 1940s and involve accusations against archdiocesan clergy, laypeople, and religious order priests, as well as clergy from other dioceses who served in the Los Angeles area.
In a letter to the community, Archbishop José H. Gomez expressed deep remorse for the incidents. “I am sorry for every one of these incidents, from the bottom of my heart,” he stated. “My hope is that this settlement will provide some measure of healing for what these men and women have suffered.”
As the largest Catholic diocese in the United States, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles’s decision to settle is a significant step toward addressing the long-standing issues of abuse within the church and providing support to the victims.
