List of largest clergy abuse settlements reached by Catholic organizations in the US

The New Orleans Archdiocese will pay at least $230 million to hundreds of survivors of priest sexual abuse under a settlement approved by a federal judge on Monday.

The agreement follows years of negotiations and includes policies to prevent future abuse. The archdiocese filed for bankruptcy in 2020 to avoid handling each of the more than 500 abuse claims separately.

Here is a list of other high priest abuse settlements reached by the Catholic Church in America.

Los Angeles:

In 2024, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles agreed to pay $880 million to more than 1,000 victims of sexual abuse by priests dating back decades.

The archdiocese, which covers Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles counties, previously paid more than $740 million to victims, making total payouts more than $1.5 billion.

San Diego, California:

The Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego agreed in 2007 to pay $198 million to settle sexual abuse claims by more than 140 priests.

The diocese filed for bankruptcy in 2024 in response to nearly 400 additional lawsuits alleging priests and others sexually abused children decades ago. The lawsuit was filed after California lifted its statute of limitations on childhood sexual abuse claims in 2019.

Oregon Province of the Society of Jesus:

The Oregon Province of the Society of Jesus, a Jesuit order, agreed in 2011 to pay $166 million to 450 Native Americans and Alaska Natives who were abused in the order’s schools around the American Northwest.

Orange, California:

In 2004, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange reached a $100 million settlement with nearly 90 victims of sexual abuse. Three years later, the diocese agreed to pay an additional $7 million to settle four more sex-abuse cases.

Boston:

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston agreed in 2003 to pay $85 million to settle more than 500 clergy sexual abuse lawsuits. The scope of the sexual abuse crisis in Boston sparked reports of widespread abuse by clergy in the United States and the church’s attempts to cover it up.

Covington, Kentucky:

In 2006, the Diocese of Covington paid more than $81 million to more than 200 sexual abuse victims in court. A diocese report released in 2020 found that 59 Catholic priests and 31 others associated with the church had sexually abused children since the 1950s.

Philadelphia:

By 2022, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia has paid more than $78 million to settle 438 claims of sexual abuse by priests, according to a report. In 2023, the archdiocese agreed to pay $3.5 million to settle additional sexual abuse lawsuits.

Wilmington, Delaware:

The Catholic Diocese of Wilmington, which serves Catholics on the Eastern Shore of Delaware and Maryland, agreed in 2011 to pay about $77. 150 priest sexual abuse victims.

Portland, Oregon:

The Archdiocese of Portland was the first Catholic diocese to file for bankruptcy in 2004 after settling more than 100 lawsuits over sexual abuse allegations. By the time the bankruptcy was completed three years later, the archdiocese had settled more than 300 claims and paid nearly $90 million in claims and attorney fees. In 2019, the archdiocese agreed to pay nearly $4 million to settle eight more claims of sexual abuse by priests.

Oakland, California:

The Diocese of Oakland reached a $56 million settlement in 2005 with 56 survivors of sexual abuse. The diocese filed for bankruptcy in 2023 after more than 300 child molestation lawsuits were filed after a new state law temporarily extended the statute of limitations on child molestation lawsuits.