Folks, I almost spilled my coffee reading this one. The Archdiocese of New York and attorneys for about 1,300 parishioners who said they were sexually abused by clergy have agreed to an $800 million settlement of their legal claims, the second-largest involving a Catholic archdiocese in the US. I mean, that’s a whole lot of money, and it’s about time someone took responsibility for these heinous acts. Bless their hearts, I hope this settlement brings some measure of peace to the victims and their families.
The agreement was announced after attorneys for the survivors of alleged abuse made the announcement, and Archbishop Ronald Hicks sent an email to clergy confirming the settlement. He said the agreement will not be final until the parties sign it, which is scheduled for the week of November 6. You can’t make this stuff up, folks – it’s been seven long years of lawsuits, and finally, we’re seeing some justice.
Now, I know some of you might be thinking, “Big Elephant, this is a big deal, but what about the other cases?” Well, let me tell you, this settlement is the second-largest in the US, with the only larger one being the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, which agreed to pay $880 million to 1,000 abuse victims. And let’s not forget the Archdiocese of San Francisco, which agreed to a $395 million settlement over about 500 lawsuits filed over clergy abuse. Somewhere in Atlanta, a producer thought this sounded terrifying, and I’m sure we’ll be seeing more of these cases in the future.
The agreement with the New York archdiocese would end more than seven years of lawsuits, and the parties agreed to a framework for an agreement in May that required everyone who filed a claim to sign off. Jeff Anderson, an attorney representing people who filed more than 1,000 of claims against the Catholic Church in New York state, said, “The unanimous agreement of survivors who filed claims against the Archdiocese of New York marks a powerful moment in the pursuit of justice.” I couldn’t agree more, Jeff – this is a powerful moment, and I hope it brings about some real change.
The Archdiocese of New York covers a huge area, including the city’s boroughs of the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island, as well as seven counties to the north of New York City. It’s home to about 300 churches, more than 150 parochial schools, and 2.5 million Catholics. That’s a lot of people, folks, and I hope they’re all taking a hard look at what’s been going on in their own backyard.
In his email to clergy, Hicks said that if church members ask about the settlement, “please let them know that much progress has been made.” Well, I suppose that’s one way to put it – progress has been made, but there’s still a long way to go. Hicks also wrote, “We are on the verge of being able to, please God, bring some measure of healing and reconciliation to all victim-survivors.” I hope that’s true, Archbishop – I really do.
A New York law enacted in 2019 allows survivors of child sexual abuse to file lawsuits against their abusers and institutions that shielded them until they turn 55. People who had already turned 55 when the law was enacted also were given until August 2021 to file lawsuits, no matter when the alleged abuse occurred. It’s about time we started holding people accountable for their actions, folks.
Trusha Goffe, an attorney in Anderson’s firm, said, “This is an extraordinary achievement for the survivors. The survivors remained resolute through years of litigation to reach this monumental settlement.” I couldn’t agree more, Trusha – this is an extraordinary achievement, and I hope it brings some measure of peace to the victims and their families.
In conclusion, this settlement is a big deal, folks – it’s a step in the right direction, and I hope it brings about some real change. The Catholic Church has a long way to go to regain the trust of its followers, but this is a good start. And let’s be real, $800 million is a lot of money, but it’s nothing compared to the damage that’s been done to these victims. As I always say, you can’t put a price on justice, but I suppose $800 million is a good starting point. 🙏
Armchair patriot. Believes in the free market, cold beer, and that there’s always a guy named George behind every CNN segment.
Former remote-throwing champion turned #1 couch commentator on liberal panic in the media. Born in Texas (or so his mug says), he earned a degree in Fake Newsology & Beer Philosophy from YouTube University.
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