The Archdiocese of New York and attorneys representing about 1,300 parishioners have agreed to an $800 million settlement involving claims of clergy sexual abuse.

Archbishop Ronald Hicks confirmed the agreement in an email to clergy Saturday. The settlement is not final until the parties sign it, with signing scheduled for the week of Nov. 6.

The agreement would conclude more than seven years of lawsuits. A framework reached in May required every person who filed a claim to approve the settlement.

Jeff Anderson represents people who filed more than 1,000 claims against the Catholic Church in New York state. Anderson said the unanimous approval by survivors represented a significant point in their pursuit of justice.

Settlement’s place among U.S. cases

The proposed payment would be the second-largest settlement involving a Catholic archdiocese in the United States. The Archdiocese of Los Angeles agreed in 2024 to pay $880 million to about 1,000 abuse victims, after previously paying $740 million related to abuse claims.

In June, the Archdiocese of San Francisco agreed to a $395 million settlement involving about 500 clergy-abuse lawsuits. The Archdiocese of New Orleans reached a settlement of at least $230 million, with approval occurring in December 2025.

Trusha Goffe called the New York agreement “an extraordinary achievement for the survivors.”

New York claims law

New York’s 2019 law allows survivors of child sexual abuse to sue alleged abusers and institutions that shielded them until the survivors turn 55. People who were already 55 when the law took effect had until August 2021 to bring lawsuits.

The Archdiocese of New York includes the Bronx, Manhattan, Staten Island and seven counties north of New York City. It has about 300 churches, more than 150 parochial schools and 2.5 million Catholics.