The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco announced on Monday that it has reached a $395 million settlement with roughly 530 individuals who have accused priests of sexually abusing them as children. The agreement is intended to resolve the archdiocese’s ongoing bankruptcy case.
As structured, the settlement would become final only after obtaining the approval of U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Dennis Montali in San Francisco. The archdiocese, which serves nearly 450,000 Catholics across San Francisco, San Mateo and Marin counties, said it will also take non-financial steps as part of the resolution.
Those non-monetary commitments include publishing the names of priests who have been deemed credibly accused of sexually abusing children and adopting further safeguards aimed at preventing future misconduct, the archdiocese said.
In a statement accompanying the announcement, San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone emphasized the institution’s stated focus on victims’ care and broader healing: "We remain committed to the healing and care of survivors who have suffered because of past sins of Church ministers. We pray for all survivors of sexual abuse, for our Archdiocese, parish communities and schools, and for the eradication of this shameful crime from our midst and from society as a whole."
The archdiocese initially filed for bankruptcy in 2023. The filing is part of a wider pattern in which more than two dozen Catholic dioceses have sought bankruptcy protection in recent years after states such as California and New York enacted laws that temporarily allowed victims of child sexual abuse to bring lawsuits over decades-old allegations.
The $395 million accord is the largest amount reached by any Catholic diocese through bankruptcy proceedings, surpassing a prior bankruptcy settlement of $323 million by the Diocese of Rockville Centre on Long Island, New York. The archdioceses of Los Angeles and New York have reached larger sex-abuse related settlements in recent years, but those agreements were reached outside of bankruptcy processes.
Steve Moreno, who served on a court-appointed committee representing survivors in the archdiocese’s bankruptcy, described the deal as an important development after protracted litigation. "No amount of money can erase the pain and shame associated with carrying the burden of my child abuse in silence for over 50 years," Moreno said in a prepared statement.
With judge approval pending, the settlement represents a significant legal and financial resolution for the archdiocese and its claimants. The agreement combines financial compensation with institutional commitments intended to enhance transparency and protective measures for children.