Skip to content
More than two years after the Archdiocese of Baltimore filed for bankruptcy, mediation between the Church and survivors of childhood sexual abuse remains ongoing as both sides continue negotiations over potential compensation.
During a January 5 hearing, representatives for the Archdiocese and the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors, which represents survivors in the case, told the court they are still committed to pursuing mediation. Some survivors expressed frustration with how long the process has taken, but both sides confirmed that negotiations will continue. The parties are scheduled to meet seven times between January and March to work toward a proposed agreement.
Earlier in the bankruptcy case, the Archdiocese proposed a plan that would provide approximately $33 million to hundreds of survivors, along with available insurance funds. Survivor advocates rejected that figure, saying it does not reflect the scope of harm.
“The Creditors Committee, of course, turned that down because it’s, it’s an insult, and they’re going to have to come together at the mediation and raise that amount in the final settlement of the bankruptcy,” said Theresa Lancaster, a survivor and lawyer for survivors.
Settlements in other Catholic diocesan bankruptcy cases have been significantly higher. The Archdiocese of Los Angeles agreed to pay $880 million to 1,353 survivors. The Archdiocese of New Orleans finalized a $230 million settlement for 600 survivors, and the New York Archdiocese reached a $300 million settlement with 1,300 survivors.
The committee representing survivors previously put forward a proposal seeking more than $888 million. Negotiations have since narrowed, but mediation remains unresolved.
In September, the Creditors Committee asked U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Michelle Harner to dismiss the Archdiocese’s bankruptcy case. The court did not move forward with that request, opting instead to allow mediation to continue in hopes that the process will result in an agreement.
The coming months are expected to be critical as the Church and survivor representatives return to the mediation table and determine whether a resolution can be reached in 2026.
For more articles related to the Baltimore Catholic Archdiocese sexual abuse lawsuits and settlements, click here.
