San Francisco Archdiocese Announces $395 Million Sexual Abuse Settlement

Email: online@newsofbahrain.com

Los Angeles: The San Francisco archdiocese announced a landmark $395 million sexual abuse settlement on Monday with more than 500 people. This historic agreement addresses numerous historical cases within the California jurisdiction, many of which involved victims who were minors at the time.

Although these cases date back several decades and original statutes of limitations had expired, a California law altered the legal timeline. The state statute granted complainants an extra three-year window from early 2020 to the end of 2022 to seek charges.

Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone apologized sincerely to all those harmed, stating that the archdiocese accepts full responsibility and the proposal offers a path toward fair compensation. Before the settlement becomes final, it must be approved by a judge and an abuse victims' association.

The agreement includes a 14-point reform plan to protect children, a sexual abuse hotline, and a published list of abusive clergy. Additionally, internal church records will be turned over to an independent consultant for a report published on the archdiocese's website.