USA Archdiocese of Los Angeles pays 880 million to abuse victims

The Archdiocese of Los Angeles has agreed to pay several hundred million US dollars to victims of decades of sexual abuse by clergy.

It agreed a settlement totaling 880 million dollars with 1,353 plaintiffs who accuse the Catholic Church of child abuse, according to a joint statement issued by lawyers for both sides on Wednesday evening (local time).

According to US media reports, this is the largest out-of-court settlement of its kind with the Catholic Church. With more than four million Catholics, Los Angeles is the largest archdiocese in the USA.

The state of California lifted the statute of limitations for child abuse in 2019. As a result, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles was mentioned in 1,900 allegations of sexual abuse of minors, according to a statement from the diocese. Some of the allegations against priests and employees of the archdiocese date back to the 1940s.

"Justice through responsibility"

In total, at least 300 priests who have worked for the diocese in recent decades have been accused of sexual abuse of minors, reports the Los Angeles Times, citing documents from the police and the diocese.

No money in the world can replace what was stolen from the 1,353 people, the plaintiffs' lawyers said in the statement. However, after decades of silent suffering, there is justice through responsibility, they added. They were grateful to those who had come forward to hold those responsible to account and protect other children in the future.

"From the depths of my heart, I am sorry for each and every case," José Gómez, the Archbishop of Los Angeles, said in a statement. He said he hoped this settlement would bring some healing to the women and men who had suffered.