MANHATTAN — In a landmark agreement, the Catholic Archdiocese of New York announced a settlement exceeding $800 million to resolve clergy sexual‑abuse claims filed by more than 1,300 survivors. The deal, negotiated under former Cardinal Timothy Dolan and finalized by Archbishop Ronald Hicks, represents one of the largest clergy‑abuse settlements in U.S. history.
Survivors receive validation and compensation
Joseph Caramanno, who was abused at St. Joseph by the Sea high school on Staten Island in 2001 when he was 16, said the settlement provides a sense of validation he feared would never come. “It still doesn’t seem real,” Caramanno told reporters, adding that the agreement also promises stronger protections for future victims.
Under the terms, each plaintiff may elect a lump‑sum payment of at least $250,000, with the possibility of a larger award after a judge appointed by the victims’ attorneys reviews each claim. The settlement also requires the archdiocese to release documents concerning offending clergy and to maintain a publicly accessible list of accused priests.
Archbishop Hicks frames the settlement as a step toward healing
In an email to priests, Archbishop Hicks wrote, “We are on the verge of being able, please God, to bring some measure of healing and reconciliation to all victim‑survivors. This agreement will also allow the archdiocese to turn its full attention once again to its mission of preaching the Gospel, healing the sick, caring for the poor and needy, welcoming the stranger, and educating our children.”
Caramanno praised Hicks for a different approach than that of Cardinal Dolan, who he said had previously been dismissive. “With Cardinal Dolan it was, ‘well this is the way it was, and there’s nothing you can do about it.’ Now it’s, ‘this is the way it was, and we want to continue to do something about it,’” Caramanno explained.
Legal process and future steps
The settlement is not final until all parties sign the documents, scheduled for early November. Plaintiffs’ attorneys indicated that the public list of offenders will be released soon, though a precise timeline has not been set. They also confirmed that none of the clergy named in the settlement are currently in active ministry, a condition established early in the negotiations.
Attorney Jeff Anderson, representing nearly 300 survivors, said the agreement reflects the perseverance of those who pursued their claims. “This is a testament to the courage and the persistence of so many survivors who were given voice because of the Child Victims Act,” Anderson said.
Community response
Many within the Catholic community expressed support for the settlement, noting that priests and lay leaders have publicly affirmed the need for accountability. “When I came forward there were many people even within the church, you know priests alike, that said that, this is not right. That was not right. You know we support you,” Caramanno recalled.
The archdiocese’s commitment to transparency and to safeguarding future generations aligns with broader calls for religious institutions to uphold moral responsibility while continuing their charitable missions.
Original reporting: Brookhaven News – ABC7 New York — read the source article.
