Nearly 500 survivors of childhood sexual abuse have reached a $246 million settlement with the Diocese of Rochester, New York, after six years of litigation. The settlement, recently approved by a federal court, is among the largest of its kind for a U.S. Catholic diocese.
Survivors filed claims under New York’s Child Victims Act, which temporarily extended the statute of limitations to allow older cases to move forward. Many alleged abuse by priests or church-affiliated individuals over decades, accusing the diocese of covering up misconduct and prioritizing the institution’s reputation over child safety.
The agreement includes contributions from insurers and will establish a compensation trust for survivors. While the settlement cannot erase past trauma, survivor groups see it as a milestone in acknowledging the church’s responsibility and providing some measure of justice to those who came forward.
The case reflects broader trends across the U.S., where legal reforms have opened the door for survivors to pursue accountability even decades after abuse occurred.
