The Archdiocese of New York has reached a tentative agreement to pay more than $800 million to settle claims of sexual abuse brought by approximately 1,300 victims, marking one of the largest settlements involving clergy abuse in the United States. The deal, which is expected to be formally signed in early November, follows over seven years of litigation.

Archbishop Ronald Hicks announced the settlement in an email sent to priests on Saturday, expressing hope that the agreement would help bring “healing and reconciliation” to survivors. Hicks, appointed last year by Pope Leo to replace Cardinal Timothy Dolan, stated that with the resolution of the claims, the archdiocese would be able to refocus on its religious and community missions.

Under the terms of the settlement, victims are expected to receive a minimum of $250,000 each, with some payouts potentially higher depending on the severity of abuse suffered. The archdiocese covers Manhattan, Staten Island, the Bronx, and several counties north of New York City.

The settlement was welcomed by survivors’ attorneys, with Jeff Anderson, who represents over 1,000 claimants, calling the unanimous agreement “a powerful moment in the pursuit of justice.” The proposed deal follows a framework agreed upon in May, requiring the approval of all claimants who filed lawsuits.

This settlement ranks as one of the largest clergy-related abuse payouts nationally, surpassed only by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, which in 2024 agreed to pay $880 million to 1,000 victims, in addition to prior payments totaling $740 million. Other dioceses across the United States have also reached multi-million-dollar settlements to resolve abuse claims without going to trial, including San Francisco’s $395 million agreement with about 530 victims announced last June.

The Archdiocese of New York had previously initiated a $300 million fund under Cardinal Dolan to compensate victims before the current broader settlement negotiations began. The new agreement aims to bring closure to a longstanding and painful chapter in the church’s history while allowing the archdiocese to move forward with its pastoral work.