The Archdiocese of Baltimore advanced a step closer to settling claims of clergy sex abuse last week after one of its insurers offered $100 million to survivors.
Though Hartford Insurance’s proposal still needs to be approved by the bankruptcy court, Jonathan Schochor, an attorney for the survivors, said the offer is a “very significant step forward” in the case, according to The Baltimore Sun.
As Zeale News previously reported, the archdiocese filed for bankruptcy in 2023 in hopes of settling claims of sex abuse. The archdiocese filed just days before Maryland reopened its statute of limitations and gave those who were sexually abused as children an opportunity to file claims — a move on the archdiocese’s part that effectively established a cutoff for claims against it.
According to local FOX affiliate FOX45 News, Schochor said that nothing can be done about the payout until the archdiocese and survivors reach an agreement.
“We need the Archdiocese of Baltimore... and I’m calling upon [William] Lori, who is our archbishop, to step forward, take responsibility, be accountable, and get his assets up to help compensate the 940 plus or minus children who were sexually abused,” Schochor said, according to the outlet.
FOX45 News also reported that the archdiocese has roughly 10 other insurers, which survivors are hoping will contribute more funds to meet their request of nearly $890 million.
According to the Sun, archdiocesan spokesperson Christian Kendzierski said April 7 that the archdiocese “continues to be committed to the process and working with the Survivors Committee and others to achieve an agreed-upon resolution of these reorganization proceedings.”