L.A. Catholic Church to pay record settlement over clergy abuse; cumulative payouts top $1.5 billion

Source: Los Angeles Times

L.A. Catholic Church to pay record settlement over clergy abuse; cumulative payouts top $1.5 billion



The agreement caps a quarter-century of litigation against the most populous archdiocese in the United States. Above, the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)

By Richard Winton and Hannah Fry
Oct. 16, 2024 3 PM PT

* The Archdiocese of Los Angeles had previously paid $740 million to victims in various settlements, bringing the total payout to over $1.5 billion.

* Archdiocesan officials have said the church has made great strides to prevent abuse.

* More than 300 priests who worked in the archdiocese in Los Angeles have been accused in public records of sexually abusing minors.

In what could be the closing chapter in a landmark legal battle, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles has agreed to pay $880 million to victims of clergy sexual abuse dating back decades in the largest settlement involving the Catholic Church.

Attorneys for 1,353 people who allege that they suffered horrific abuse at the hands of local Catholic priests reached the settlement after months of negotiations with the archdiocese. The agreement caps a quarter-century of litigation against the most populous archdiocese in the United States.

The settlement leaves only a few lawsuits pending against the church in Los Angeles, attorneys for the victims say.

The archdiocese had previously paid $740 million to victims in various settlements and had pledged to better protect its church members, so this settlement would put the total payout at more than $1.5 billion.

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Read more: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-10-16/archdiocese-of-los-angeles-to-pay-880-million-in-the-largest-clergy-sexual-abuse-settlement