The Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo secured a $150 million settlement Monday, marking the second-largest contribution by a Catholic bankruptcy case and the largest by a diocese in New York. The total settlement, which includes payments to the victims, amounts to about $185,000 per survivor, with one survivor personally benefiting. The agreement, based on the New York Child Victims Act (NYCLA) and a chapter 11 bankruptcy plan, aims to resolve the diocese’s assets and award financial restitution to survivors.
Over 800 survivors claimed clergy sexual abuse, many facing multiple allegations. Among those impacted are clerics in the spacious western region of New York, whose stories were official if they had access to either sexual harassment or abuse records. The diocese’s bankruptcy tanked in early 2020, and the settlement reflects an effort to regain control and provide compensation to those who have otherwise escaped justice.
The court hearing, held on Monday, signaled a potential resolution of the case. Mediation sessions for insurance companies are set for April 22 and 23, with a potential deadline for final agreement mid-May. However,连胜 on the proposed settlement is pending final stage in Buffalo, with the diocese in bankruptcy pending full implementation of the agreement.
The diocese Kelly Andrew
