The Archdiocese of New York has agreed to pay $800 million to resolve sexual abuse claims brought by roughly 1,300 people who say they were abused by clergy members or lay workers, the archdiocese and a plaintiffs’ attorney said Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026. The agreement remains pending signed paperwork. Jeff Anderson, whose law firm represents more than 250 plaintiffs, said the settlement had been finalized and that all plaintiffs had agreed to its terms. Archbishop Ronald Hicks told priests in an email Saturday that an agreement had been reached with claimants and their attorneys, but had not yet been signed. Hicks said the agreement could bring “some measure of healing and reconciliation” to survivors and allow the archdiocese to refocus on its religious and charitable work. Anderson said clients felt both sorrow over the abuse and relief that the legal fight was nearing an end. He said they hoped speaking out could help protect others and bring change within the archdiocese. The settlement is among the largest in the Catholic Church’s response to sexual abuse claims. The Archdiocese of Los Angeles agreed to an $880 million settlement in 2024. New York’s archdiocese entered mediation in December 2025 to address the roughly 1,300 claims. At that time, it said it had laid off staff and planned to sell some Manhattan properties as part of efforts to raise $300 million for survivors. The size of the New York agreement underscores the significant financial and institutional consequences of abuse claims for the church, while offering claimants a path toward compensation without continuing litigation. The terms and payment process were not detailed in the statements described Saturday.