The Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco announced announced Monday that it has reached a $395 million settlement with over 500 survivors of childhood sexual abuse within the church.
Terms of the agreement, which still must be approved by a judge, also require the church to comply with transparency and child protection requirements, including maintaining an up-to-date list of all accused clergy.
In one letter Addressing the Church, Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone apologized to all the victims and stated:
We recognize that no financial solution can erase the painful legacy of these past actions. However, we believe this proposal provides a path to fair compensation for survivors who have borne the burden of this abuse throughout their lives. Sexual abuse of children and young people is a tragedy that has affected many parts of society, including the church.
The proposed settlement would resolve more than 500 lawsuits filed against the archdiocese California Assembly Bill 218 (AB-218), a law allowing individuals to bring sexual assault claims that would otherwise have been barred due to the expiration of the statute of limitations. This led to hundreds of lawsuits being filed against Catholic dioceses between January 2020 and December 2022, the three-year period for filing the lawsuit.
Based on these claims, the Archdiocese of San Francisco, which serves nearly 450,000 Catholics in San Francisco, San Mateo and Marin counties, filed a petition Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Restructuring in 2023 to keep the business intact while reaching a settlement agreement.
Cordileone wrote in a letter that the bankruptcy process was the best way to provide a “compassionate and just solution for survivors of abuse” while ensuring “vital” ministry services were provided. The church closed a list of dioceses in California that have done the same in handling sexual abuse claims, including San Diego, Fresno and Oakland.
This agreement resolves both the lawsuits and the bankruptcy filing and is the largest settlement of any Catholic dioceses, $72 million more than a diocese’s payout in Long Island in 2024.
The Catholic Church has a long history Story of sexual abuse that is constantly being uncovered as more and more allegations come to light. Cordileone stated that he remains committed to healing and caring for survivors who have suffered irreversible harm due to the “sins of the church’s pastors.”
