A Catholic diocese in the United States has agreed to pay $180 million to settle hundreds of sexual abuse claims linked to clergy members, marking one of the largest settlements of its kind for the Church.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden, based in southern New Jersey near Philadelphia, said the agreement will compensate more than 300 survivors of abuse dating back to the 1970s and 1980s.
In a letter to parishioners, Bishop Joseph A. Williams confirmed that a survivors’ committee had accepted the terms of a bankruptcy settlement that will create a $180 million trust funded by the diocese and its insurers. The proposal still requires approval from a bankruptcy court.
Williams described the settlement as a long-awaited step toward justice and healing for victims, thanking survivors for their courage in coming forward and acknowledging the trauma they endured.
The case forms part of a broader reckoning within the Catholic Church, which has faced years of scrutiny over widespread abuse allegations and claims that senior officials shielded offending priests.
Data compiled by BishopAccountability.org shows that between 1950 and 2016, the Church received more than 18,000 complaints against thousands of clergy members across the country.
This week’s agreement builds on an earlier settlement reached in 2022, when the Camden diocese committed $87.5 million to resolve related claims.
In his message, Williams offered an apology to survivors, acknowledging what he called a grave betrayal of trust and pledging that the Church would move forward differently.
For many victims, the settlement represents not only financial compensation, but recognition and, at long last, accountability.