Los Angeles Archdiocese Settles Sex Abuse Claims for $880 Million

The Archdiocese of Los Angeles has agreed to pay $880 million to settle claims from 1,354 victims of childhood sexual abuse, marking the largest settlement of its kind involving a Catholic archdiocese. This settlement follows California's Assembly Bill 218, which temporarily lifted the statute of limitations for such claims, allowing many allegations dating back decades to be filed. Archbishop José Gomez expressed deep sorrow for the incidents and hopes the settlement will aid in the healing of survivors. Over the past two decades, the archdiocese has paid approximately $1.5 billion in similar cases, reflecting a long history of addressing past abuses. The funds for this settlement will come from archdiocese reserves, investments, and contributions from certain religious orders. Despite reforms and a decrease in new abuse cases, the church continues to face scrutiny over its handling of past allegations.