San Francisco Archdiocese reaches $395M settlement in principle with abuse survivors

The Archdiocese of San Francisco announced June 29 that it has reached an agreement in principle on a $395 million settlement that would resolve more than 500 clergy sexual abuse lawsuits filed under California Assembly Bill 218, marking a major step in its ongoing Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings.

The proposed settlement, which still requires a formal Chapter 11 reorganization plan and court approval, would compensate survivors who filed claims during AB 218's three-year lookback window, which allowed decades-old child sexual abuse lawsuits that had previously been barred by statutes of limitations to move forward, according to to the archdiocese. Litigation between the archdiocese, the official committee representing abuse survivors, and other parties has been paused while details of the reorganization plan are finalized.

"We believe this proposal provides a path toward fair compensation for survivors who have borne the weight of this abuse for a lifetime," Archbishop of San Francisco Salvatore Cordileone said in a statement. "The entire Catholic family is called to unite and share in the work of making amends through this proposed settlement."

Attorneys representing survivors said the agreement also includes a 14-point child protection plan that they described as unprecedented. According to the survivors' legal team, the reforms include expanded screening measures, a publicly accessible list of clergy credibly accused of abuse, a publicly available archive documenting the church's handling of abuse allegations, additional transparency requirements, and ongoing oversight by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court after survivors vote on the plan.

The archdiocese filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in August 2023 after hundreds of abuse claims were filed under AB 218. Church officials said ministries, parishes, schools, and charitable services have continued operating throughout the bankruptcy process, serving approximately 442,000 Catholics in the counties of San Francisco, San Mateo, and Marin.

The archdiocese said it has maintained child protection policies for decades, including removing clergy from ministry while abuse allegations are investigated, conducting criminal background checks for clergy, employees, and volunteers working with minors, and operating an Office of Child and Youth Protection that oversees abuse prevention training, compliance audits, victim assistance, and reporting procedures. Officials said the proposed settlement also includes additional nonmonetary measures intended to strengthen those safeguards.

"While the vast majority of sexual abuse allegations associated with this bankruptcy were from many decades ago, we accept full responsibility for what happened, and I sincerely apologize to all those who have been harmed," Archbishop Cordileone said. "We remain committed to the healing and care of survivors who have suffered because of past sins of Church ministers."

In a post on X, the archbishop wrote that while "no financial settlement can erase the painful legacy of past actions," he prayed "that God's grace may help to heal all those affected."