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Image: St. Louis Cathedral, New Orleans, by Rafal Konieczny, courtesy of Wikipedia
A federal bankruptcy judge has mandated that the Archdiocese of New Orleans, the nation’s second-oldest Catholic diocese, appear in court on June 26 to explain why its five-year-old Chapter 11 bankruptcy case should not be dismissed, The Guardian reported Tuesday. This directive comes as the church faces mounting pressure over unresolved sexual abuse claims and escalating legal expenses.
Judge Meredith Grabill issued the order just days before the fifth anniversary of the archdiocese’s bankruptcy filing on May 1, 2020. The filing was initiated to address a surge of lawsuits alleging sexual abuse by clergy members spanning over six decades.
Despite years of mediation, the archdiocese and a committee representing more than 500 abuse survivors have failed to reach a settlement. The church proposed an average payout of $125,000 per claimant, while the survivors’ committee sought approximately $2 million per claimant, totaling over $1 billion, primarily from insurance proceeds.
Judge Grabill expressed frustration over the lack of progress, noting that legal fees have exceeded $41 million without a confirmable plan in place. She emphasized that, after five years and substantial expenditures, no coalition of parties has proposed a viable resolution.
The archdiocese responded by stating its commitment to negotiations aimed at providing equitable compensation to survivors while ensuring the church’s future operations. However, survivors and their advocates argue that the prolonged bankruptcy process has delayed justice and transparency.
The Archdiocese of New Orleans is not alone in facing substantial financial settlements due to clergy sexual abuse claims. Notably, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles agreed to a record $880 million settlement in 2024 to compensate 1,353 victims, bringing its total payouts to over $1.5 billion . Similarly, the Diocese of Rockville Centre in New York reached a $323 million settlement with approximately 600 survivors in 2024 . These significant settlements underscore a growing trend of accountability within the Catholic Church, offering hope and a path to justice for survivors nationwide.
For sexual abuse survivors, understanding their legal rights is paramount. If you or someone you know has been affected, resources are available to help navigate the path to justice.
If you are a survivor of sexual abuse within the Catholic Church, you may still have time to pursue justice.
Visit SurvivorsRights.com’s Catholic Church Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Guide to learn more about your legal options and request a free, confidential case review.
