Archdiocese of NOLA Sex Abuse Settlement: $229M

Individuals who submit a qualifying claim stating they experienced sexual abuse or misconduct involving clergy or personnel associated with the Archdiocese of New Orleans or the Catholic entities included in the joint bankruptcy plan.

Claims must be submitted using the designated Abuse Proof of Claim Form and must include the information required by the form to assess eligibility and compensation.

The Archdiocese of New Orleans has proposed a $229 million settlement as part of its ongoing bankruptcy proceedings, aiming to resolve hundreds of sexual abuse claims involving clergy and associated Catholic organizations.

The proposed plan spans 158 entities connected to the Archdiocese and is intended to provide financial compensation through a court‑supervised settlement trust.

According to the proposed plan, the total $229 million figure consists of contributions from the Archdiocese, related Catholic institutions and insurers. The structure includes an immediate cash contribution, additional scheduled payments and funds secured through settlements with insurance carriers.

If approved, this settlement would be one of the largest church‑related bankruptcy resolutions in the United States.

The plan follows years of allegations from individuals who reported childhood or adolescent sexual abuse by priests, church staff or other individuals acting under the authority of the Archdiocese.

Survivors assert that the Archdiocese failed to properly protect children and failed to remove or discipline individuals accused of misconduct.

As part of the bankruptcy process, survivors who filed claims will have the opportunity to vote on whether the plan moves forward. The bankruptcy court requires approval from at least two‑thirds of voting claimants for the trust to be created.

If approved, the settlement trust would distribute compensation to eligible claimants according to court‑approved evaluation procedures.

Once the plan becomes effective, survivors would not be able to file new lawsuits for abuse that occurred before the bankruptcy filings. The settlement is intended to provide a structured path for compensation while closing the door on future litigation against the Archdiocese and the participating Catholic entities for historical abuse.

What Class Members Can Receive

Compensation will be determined by the settlement trust created under the bankruptcy plan.

Payments will vary based on the nature of the survivor’s experience, the documentation provided and the trust’s evaluation criteria. Funds will be distributed from contributions made by the Archdiocese, affiliated Catholic organizations and insurance settlements included in the overall $229 million proposal.

The trust will be responsible for reviewing each claim and determining the individual award amount.