New Orleans sexual abuse victims approve $230m Catholic church settlement

New Orleans Archdiocese Settles $230m with Sex Abuse Victims

In a near-unanimous vote, hundreds of victims of childhood sexual abuse by clergy have approved a $230 million bankruptcy settlement with the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans. The deal, which was accepted by 99.63% of creditors excluding a small group of bond investors who voted against it while suing the church for securities fraud, will provide payments to victims based on points assigned for the severity and effects of the abuse.

The settlement includes agreements to release files on abusive priests and deacons, as well as stronger protections for children and vulnerable adults. However, not all abuse survivors voted on the final settlement plan, with only two individuals opposing it - a rare occurrence in such cases.

Initially, attorneys representing many abuse survivors had planned to vote against a plan that did not guarantee $50 million of the total amount tied to the sale of church-owned apartment complexes. However, after negotiations were amended to include this amount, their lawyers supported the deal.

The judge overseeing the archdiocese's bankruptcy, Meredith Grabill, has yet to approve the settlement. A hearing on whether to confirm it is scheduled for November 12.

New Orleans' archdiocese filed for bankruptcy in 2020 amid the fallout from a worldwide clergy molestation scandal, with many US Catholic dioceses or religious orders having followed suit. This is one of over 40 cases that have been completed, according to Penn State University's law school.

In contrast, New Orleans Archbishop Gregory Aymond initially estimated his administration could resolve the proceedings for about $7 million, including compensation for abuse victims. However, the archdiocese has since spent significantly more - around $50 million on legal fees alone.

The settlement amount materialized after Louisiana state lawmakers removed a ban in 2021 on allowing survivors of decades-old abuse to pursue civil damages in court. The state supreme court upheld this law as constitutional in June 2024.

Critics have pointed out that the archdiocese's actions, such as the expulsion of four abuse survivor clients from a committee negotiating a settlement, have been acrimonious and at times secretive. A lawyer for survivors' attorney Richard Trahant stated that his clients played a significant role in approving the deal but acknowledged that "no amount of money could ever make these survivors whole."

Meanwhile, an ongoing investigation has exposed how the archdiocese shielded admitted serial child abuser Lawrence Hecker from law enforcement for decades.

Ugh, 230 mil is just a drop in the bucket for all those victims . I mean, imagine having to live with the trauma of being abused by clergy for years and then finding out they're getting a fraction of what they deserve. It's like the system is designed to keep them down. And don't even get me started on the archdiocese trying to play both sides - negotiating with lawyers and then expelling survivors from their own committee . The whole thing just reeks of corruption. I'm glad some victims were able to come together and fight for justice, but there are still so many more who haven't been able to access the help they need .

I'm thinking this $230m settlement is gonna be a tough pill to swallow for some of those abuse victims. I mean, it's better than nothing, but still, its not like they're gonna make up for the trauma and emotional pain they've been through. Its crazy how the archdiocese went from underestimating the whole situation to overpaying by 50x what the original estimate was. What kinda lawyers do you need to be to get a deal that sweet?

The church settling for 230 million, still feels like they dodged a bullet to me They're basically paying people off and calling it good, doesn't take away the pain of what these survivors went through . I don't trust that all the files on abusive priests are gonna be released either, there's gotta be some skeletons left buried in that archdiocese . And $50 million from apartment sales? It's just a drop in the bucket considering how much more they've wasted on lawyers . The fact that only two people voted against it is pretty underwhelming too

The settlement is like a drop in the ocean right? I mean 230 million bucks might seem like alot but its still just peanuts compared to all the damage that was done... i feel bad for those victims who went through this and werent even given the chance to have their say. It's crazy how they had to fight for the ability to sue in court, i wish it wasnt so hard for them to get justice.

This settlement is a great example of the Catholic Church's commitment to transparency and accountability . But let's get real, it's not about the money - it's about the principle . The fact that they had to shell out $230 million just to keep from going to court is a huge win for victims and their families . And what's even more telling is that they only had to put up this kind of cash after Louisiana state lawmakers stepped in with some much-needed common sense .

Now, I know some folks might say that the settlement amount is excessive or that it puts too much pressure on the Church to come up with a plan . But let me ask you - if it takes $230 million for them to admit what they've been hiding for so long, don't we deserve better? The question remains: will this settlement be enough to hold the Church accountable for its decades-long cover-up? Only time (and another bankruptcy court) will tell .

man... this is just heartbreaking the $230m settlement is a good start but it's gonna take a lot more than that to make amends for what happened to those victims i mean, 99.63% of creditors agreeing on the deal is already a huge step forward, but there are still some red flags - like how the archdiocese was initially way off on the amount they thought they could pay out and now it's costing them around $50m just in legal fees alone

and yeah, it's crazy that critics have been pointing out all these acrimonious actions by the archdiocese... expelling abuse survivor clients from a settlement committee? that's just shady but i guess this deal still shows that they're trying to take responsibility for their mistakes.

it's also interesting to note how the state supreme court upheld the law allowing survivors of decades-old abuse to pursue civil damages in court - that's some progress, right?

Ugh, 230m is just insane . I mean, can you even imagine having to settle for that much money? It's like they're saying sorry and then... yeah, moving on with the rest of their lives. No real consequences, no real accountability. And don't even get me started on the whole secrets and expulsions thing... it's just gross. Like, come on guys, own up to your mistakes! Be honest and transparent about what you've done wrong.

And I love how they initially thought they could get away with only 7m . Like, what were they thinking? Did they really think that was enough to sweep everything under the rug? Newsflash: it's not. And yeah, I know some people might say "at least they're paying out now", but no, it's about time they admitted their wrongdoing and took responsibility for it.

And can we talk about the fact that this is just one case out of 40+ similar ones ? Like, how many more lives have been ruined because of these guys? And what about the ones who didn't survive or are still suffering? It's just... ugh.

man this settlement is crazy 230m is a lot of money and its about time they just paid it out already some people have been suffering for way too long the fact that there were only two people who voted against the deal is wild i mean idk how many ppl are even left out but hopefully all the victims get the help they need this settlement is a huge step forward for survivors and its good to see the church being held accountable too

Ugh, I'm gettin' the feels just thinkin' about this ... $230 million is a drop in the bucket when it comes to makin' up for what these kids went through . I mean, I know it's better than nothin', but 99.63% of creditors? That's still a pretty low bar . And don't even get me started on them bond investors who voted against it... like, come on guys .

I'm glad that the state lawmakers finally stepped in and removed that ban on civil damages . It's about time we start holdin' institutions accountable for their actions . But at the same time, I feel bad for the lawyers and advocates who had to fight so hard to get this deal done .

It's all just a reminder of how broken our system is when it comes to addressin' abuse and cover-ups . We need better support for survivors and more accountability for those in power . And let's be real, $50 million on legal fees alone? That's just outrageous .