The Diocese of Camden, New Jersey, has agreed to pay $180 million to settle approximately 300 claims of clergy sex abuse. The decision comes after years of legal proceedings.
FOX News reported that the agreement includes an $87.5 million settlement that the diocese reached with survivors in 2022. According to Camden Bishop Joseph Williams, the final settlement amount will be funded by the diocese and its parishes, as well as by the companies that insured the diocese in the past.
Bishop Williams announced the settlement in a Feb. 17 letter to members of the diocese, writing, “For the survivors of South Jersey, this day is long overdue and represents a milestone in their journey toward restored justice and the healing and recognition they have long sought and deserve.”
The bishop explained that the official survivors’ committee has accepted the settlement, which he approved with the support of the diocese’s College of Consultors and Finance Council. According to FOX News, the bankruptcy court must now approve the agreement. The diocese filed for bankruptcy in 2020 after New Jersey reopened the statute of limitations for child sex abuse survivors in 2019, leading to hundreds of claims against the diocese.
In his letter, Bishop Williams thanked the survivors for their courage in sharing their stories and seeking justice. He emphasized that the settlement is an important step toward restoring trust in the Church.
“I cannot remove the scars you carry nor restore the innocence you lost, but on behalf of my predecessors and the faithful of Camden I can say clearly and without reservation: We believe you, we are sorry and we are committed to walking a different path going forward with you, God willing, at our side,” he wrote.
Bishop Williams additionally thanked the faithful of his diocese for their “patience and grace” during the litigation process and expressed his gratitude to the diocese’s priests, deacons, religious, and other members for “remaining committed to the Gospel in the face of great challenges.”
He concluded, “May Christ, who heals the brokenhearted and makes all things new, bless us all and make us one in Him.”