Syracuse Diocese Sexual Abuse Settlement: A $100 Million Path to Accountability

In a historic turning point for survivors of clerical abuse in Central New York, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse has reached a landmark Syracuse Diocese sexual abuse settlement totaling $100 million. This agreement marks the culmination of years of litigation following the Diocese’s June 2020 bankruptcy filing, sparked by hundreds of claims filed under the New York Child Victims Act (CVA).

The diocese — which filed for bankruptcy in June 2020 after victims filed more than 100 lawsuits against it — reached the agreement late last week with the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors, whose members all survived child sex abuse, according to a press release.

“This settlement shows the commitment of sexual abuse survivors, especially this committee, to stick together, and that when the Diocese tries to work with victims, instead of against them, a consensual resolution can be reached,” Jordan Merson, the attorney who represented the committee’s now-deceased vice chair and continues to represent nearly two dozen survivors, said in a statement.

The lawsuits were filed after the state passed the New York Child Victims Act in 2019, which extended the statute of limitations for survivors of sexual abuse to file claims.

The settlement is the second by a New York diocese and the second-largest by a Catholic institution during a bankruptcy proceeding, according to the Times Union.

The diocese will contribute $50 million, while another $45 million will be raised from 119 parishes within the organization, the Catholic Sun said.

Although accepted by both the committee and the diocese — which includes seven counties in New York state — creditors and the court must also sign off before it moves forward, the release said.

“I can tell you as shocking as the settlement amount may seem to leaders of our own parishes and other Catholic entities, more appalling and heart-rending to me is the pain and mistreatment experienced by the survivors of child and adult sexual abuse at the hands of those they thought they could trust,” Syracuse Bishop Douglas J. Lucia said in a letter to his congregation.

“As the present leader of the church of Syracuse, I cannot apologize enough for the abuse which happened or for any neglect in dealing with it,” Lucia continued. “This is why the final settlement will include commitments meant to strengthen our safe environment protocols to further ensure the past does not repeat itself.”

The diocese and the committee are still negotiating with insurance carriers involved in the bankruptcy case, the press release said.

This article was originally published in the New York Post.

Conclusion: Justice for Syracuse Survivors

While the court must still sign off on the final details, this Syracuse Diocese sexual abuse settlement offers a powerful symbol of hope. It reinforces the notion that justice can prevail, even against the most established institutions.

If you have a claim against the Syracuse Diocese or another religious entity, Merson Law is here to help you navigate the bankruptcy and settlement process.