New York Archbishop Ronald Hicks said May 1 the Archdiocese of New York remains committed to bringing “healing and justice” to victim-survivors of clergy sexual abuse as the archdiocese works toward a global settlement of abuse lawsuits.
In a May 1 pastoral letter framed around the approaching Feast of Pentecost, Archbishop Hicks said the Church has long been “a source of prayer, inspiration, comfort, and connection for God’s people,” but has also been “scarred by the scourge of the sexual abuse of minors.”
“As Pope Leo XIV reminds us, we cannot close our eyes or our hearts to the victim-survivors,” he said, “and indeed the Archdiocese of New York continues our prayerful work to recognize and affirm the pain these individuals have experienced, and do all that we can to promote healing and reconciliation.”
The archbishop added that the faithful must recognize that “suffering continues for many who continue to live with this trauma each day” and “recommit ourselves to ensuring that these horrific misdeeds are never again committed in our Church.”
Archbishop Hicks said the archdiocese and the Plaintiff’s Liaison Committee (PLC), which represents a majority of victim-survivors, have been working for several months to reach an agreement on a global settlement of sex abuse lawsuits. According to the archbishop, all parties have been working to create the framework of an agreement “that will deliver compensation to victim-survivors faster and more efficiently than the traditional legal process.” He noted that Judge Daniel J. Buckley, a neutral third-party mediator, has facilitated the talks.
“Although much work remains to be done before a settlement can be finalized and consummated, I am cautiously optimistic about the path we are on,” Archbishop Hicks said.
Reuters reported May 1 that the archdiocese had agreed to pay $800 million to settle claims from 1,300 sex abuse survivors, though the proposed settlement is still subject to final documentation and full survivor agreement.
Archbishop Hicks said members of the PLC have begun reaching out to counsel for the impacted individuals, adding, “it is our sincere hope to achieve full participation.”
He said the goal is to create a process that will compensate victim-survivors “in the fastest, most comprehensive manner possible,” while avoiding lengthy litigation or bankruptcy proceedings for the archdiocese.
Archbishop Hicks, who was installed as archbishop in February 2026, also pointed to previous steps taken by the archdiocese, including the Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Program established in 2016 under his predecessor, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, which provided millions of dollars in compensation to victim-survivors. He also said the archdiocese has sold most of its real estate holdings and made significant operational cuts to “secure the resources needed to compensate victim-survivors.”
“It cannot be denied that this has been a painful process — most significantly so for the victim-survivors and their families and loved ones who have suffered, in most cases, for decades,” he said. “I pray that all of us, as the Family of God, will come together to support and affirm these individuals and take these next steps to bring about some healing and peace.”
Archbishop Hicks concluded by asking for the intercession of the Blessed Mother Mary and Saint Joseph to “heal the wounds of all those who have been hurt by abuse whenever and wherever it occurred.”